Letter from Sigmund Freud to Karl Abraham, April 28, 1924

442F

Vienna, Berggasse 191
28 April 1924

Dear Friend,

This letter, which is to congratulate you on the presidency, would have gone off several days earlier had not the “waves of the steamer” of the Congress thrown up on my shores so many visitors who could not be refused. I think with regret that you let yourself to be deterred from coming to Vienna and yet I must be selfish enough to regard it as a relief for which I thank you. The good Casimiro will have understood that this time it is not a matter of a passing indisposition on my part but of a new and badly reduced level of life and work.

I have heard with pleasure that the Congress passed off without any disturbing clashes, and I am very glad to acknowledge your services in this matter. As for the affair itself, I am, as you know, in an uncomfortable position. As regards the scientific aspect, I am in fact very close to your standpoint, or rather I am growing closer and closer to it, but in the personal aspect I still cannot take your side. Though I am fully convinced of the correctness of your behaviour, I still think you might have done things differently. On the question of nuance of attitude I agree with Eitingon.

Now let me wish you an active and successful period of office, and I send my greetings to you and yours with unruffled cordiality.

Yours,

Freud