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THE
ALANSON
B.
INSTITUTE
HOUGHTON
STUDY
TRU STEES
(F O U N D E D B Y L O U I S B A M B E R G E R A N D M R S . F E L I X F U L D , 1 9 3 0 )
Chairman
HERBERT H .
FOR A D V A N C E D
F R A N K A YDELOTTE
O F F IC E
M A A SS
Vice-Chairman
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
A L E X I S CA RR EL
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
W ALTER W . STEW ART
PRINCETO N, N E W JER SEY
Vice-Chairman
F E L IX FR A N K FU R T E R
J U L I U S F R IE D E N W A L D
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
CA BLE A D D R E S S : V A N 8 T I T U T E
P R IN C E T O N
NEW
JE R S E Y
J O H N R . H A R D IN
Treasurer
ALANSON B . H O U G H TO N
IR A A . S C H U R
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
Assistant Treasurer
H E R B ER T H . M A A SS
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
F L O R E N C E R . S A B IN
Secretary
W ALTER W . 8T E W A R T
PERCY S. STR A U S
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
Bovember 8, 1934
Assistant Secretary
O SW A LD V EBLEN
L E W IS H . W EED
ABRAHAM
FLEXNER
L IF E
Director o f the Institute
TRU STEES
L O U IS B A M B ER G ER
M R S . F E L IX FU LD
Des,r Dr. Riefler:
After you have had a chance to reflect upon our talk at luncheon
the other day, I wonder if it would he possible for you to come to Princeton at some
convenient time and let me know how the matter then lies in your mind.
course no authority as yet to offer an appointment.
make a recommendation to the Board.
I have of
Ehe most that I ca.n do is to
I realize that the process through, which I
am going resembles in a good many ways a courtship, the two parties to which feel
their way before undertaking a final commitaient.
Only this business of recruit
ing a faculty involves more complete understanding between the two parties in
interest since there are no divorce courts which may undo alliances that turn
out to be misfits!
I am therefore most anxious that you and I should completely
■understand one another.
I can promise you, however, that even if you are favorable
to the idea, I shall not mention it to the Board unless I assure myself in advance
that they will approve anything that you and I may come to agree upon.
I am likely to be here almost continuously.
If Saturday is a
less hectic day with you than a week-day, perhaps you could come to Princeton some
Saturday afternoon, spend the night, and get back to Washington at a comfortable
hour on the following Sunday afternoon or evening.
With all good wishes to you and your wife,
j
er
Dr. Winfield W. Riefler
34 Malvern Avenue, Cherryaale, 7a.
Ev'er sincerely,
J-
xf.
I
THE
ALAN SO N
E.
INSTITUTE
HOUGHTON
STUDY
TRU STEES
(F O U N D E D B Y L O U IS BA M B ER G ER A N D M R S . F E L I X F U L D , 1 9 3 0 )
Chairman
HERBERT H .
FOR A D V A N C E D
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
O F F IC E
M A A SS
Vice-Chairman
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
A L E X I S CA RR EL
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
W ALTER W . STEW A RT
PRINCETON, N E W JERSEY
Vice-Chairman
F E L IX FR A N K F U R T E R
J U L I U S F R IE D E N W A L D
S A M U E L D . L E 1D E S D 0 R F
CA BLE A D D R E S S : V A N S T IT U T E
P R IN C E T O N
NEW
JE R S E Y
J O H N R . H A R D IN
Treasurer
ALANSON B. H O U G H TO N
IR A A . S C H U R
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
Assistant Treasurer
H ERBER T H . M A A SS
F L O R E N C E R . S A B IN
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
Secretary
W ALTER W . STEW A RT
PER C Y S . STR A U S
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
O SW A LD V E BL E N
Assistant Secretary
ABRAHAM
December 17, 1934
L E W IS H . W EED
FLEXNER
L IF E
Director of the Institute
TRU STEES
L 0 U I 8 B A M B ER G ER
M R S . F E L IX FU LD
Dear Dr. Riefler:
I am coining clown to Washington Thursday,
arriving there sometime in the early afternoon.
I
shall be in Washington Thursday and Friday.
I have had another talk with Walter
Ster/art, and I now have a proposition which I should
like to lay before you.
We could meet at tea Thursday
afternoon or at lunch on Friday or at any other hour
that suits your convenience.
Would you wire me at
this address, so that I may make my appointments ac
cordingly?
With all good wishes,
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Winfield W. Eiefler
Hoorn 7219, Commerce Building
Washington, D.C.
AF.-ESB
January J, 193$
Dear Dr* Flexner:
14y resignation has at last been accepted
to take effect when ray successor has been ap
pointed and qualified, I am naturally pushing
to get this appointment made as soon as pos* sible*
Under the circumstances, I feel it would
be best for the Institute to go ahead with rqy
appointment next Monday, to take effect as soon
as I aa released from ray duties here*
I am looking forward to this release and
our subsequent venture with greater eagerness
every day* I will let you know just as soon
as I am coiapletely free*
Very truly yours,
Dr* Abraham Flexner, Director
Institute for Advanced Study
20 Hassau Street
Princeton, New Jersey
January 11, 1935
Dear Hr. 51exner:
I have cleared the matter with the Presi
dent and it will be perfectly proper for you
to make the announcement of my appointment on
Monday*
1 am still pushing for ray successor to
be appointed* 1 think the announcement may
serve to hasten the day* X am anxious to get
past the strain of waiting during these last
days as quickly as possible*
Tour solicitude for our comfort touches
me deeply* It is a long time since I have en
joyed a relationship as sensitive as that* I
know that we shall be happy*
Very truly yours.
Dr* Abraham FIexner
Institute for Advanced Study
20 Hassan Street
Princeton, Hew Jersey
THE
A LAN SON
!
B . \lO U G H T O N
INSTITUTE
FOR A D V A N C E D S T U D Y
(F O U N D E D B Y L O U I S B A M B E R G E R A N D M R S . F E L I X
TRU STEES
F U L D , 1£> 30)
Chairman
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
O F F IC E
H E R B E lf c H . W ^ A S S
^^Vice-Chairman
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
A L E X I S CA RR EL
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
W ALTER W . STEW ART
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
Vice-Chairman
F E L IX FR A N K F U R T E R
J U L I U S F R IE D E N W A L D
CA BLE A D D R E S S : V A N S I I T U T E
S A M U E L D . L E ID E 5D O R F
P R IN C E T O N
NEW
JE R S E Y
J O H N R . H A R D IN
Treasurer
ALANSON B. H O U G H TO N
IR A A . S C H U R
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
Assistant Treasurer
H ERBERT H . M A A SS
F L O R E N C E R . S A B IN
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
January 15, 1935
Secretary
W ALTER W . STEW A RT
PERCY S. STR A U S
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
O SW A LD V E B L E N
Assistant Secretary
L E W IS H . W EED
ABRAHAM
FLEXNER
L IF E
Director o f the Institute
TRU STEES
L O U IS B A M B ER G ER
M R S . F E L IX FU L D
Dear Dr. Riefler:
I found your letter of the 11th -waiting for me when I returned
from Florida after a ten day rest in the sun, which did me a -world of good.
The Board met yesterday and approved your appointment.
This
morning I wired you as follows;
"Board of Trustees ratified with great enthusiasm
your appointment yesterday on basis upon -which we had
agreed Letter follows"
In all probability the first announcement regarding the School
of Economics and Politics will be made tomorrow.
Some time after your successor is appointed, when you and your
wife would like a week-end in Prinoeton, taking your ease and perhaps Tnalrl-ng
a preliminary survey, &rs. Flexner and I would be delighted to have you as
our guests.
I hope that once you are free from the terrific pressure under
which you hare been working you will sit back and, as Walt 'Whitman says,
II
K
loaf and en^oy your soul.
With all good wishes and great satisfaction that things have
turned out as they have, I am
Dr. Winfield Riefler
Roam 7219, Commerce Building
Washington, D. C.
Sincerely yours,
'£+-&*■ -I
Dr. Tliefler
?, S.
January 15, 1935
Since dictating the above I have had luncheon with the leading
professors in the field of economics here in order that; they might know from
me the steps we have taken before seeiag it in the newspapers tomorrow.
I
told them that I hoped that we should have in the near future a building some
thing analago us ' o Pine Hall, provided with studies and proper facilities for
reall.y advanced workers and for research, accumulating a specialised library
as we went on.
They asked me to say to you and to Earle and Mitraoy that they
are delighted with the prospect of developing here at Princeton a center for
disinterested higher thinking and research in the field of economics and
politics.
Subsequently I had a talk with Eisenharfc, Dean of the Graduate School,
who has been helpful and generous beyond words froin the very beginning of the
Institute, and who is indeed largely responsible for the cooperation which has
the
been so effective between/Princeton and the Institute mathematicians.. Msentert
dwelt upon a problem with which I am quite familiar from my work in medical
education, namely, that the men who work in .fields so near to industry and
banking may be diverted by practical jobs from the pursuit of real thinking,
I told him that I thought it was our purpose to provide against this danger and I hoped that Princeton could work itself into the sane position - by providin
opportunities for persons on the sta'f of the School of Economics to do such
work elsewhere as is really essential to them; to provide them with comfortable
salaries and the assurance of a retiring allowance which would take care, in
comfort and dignity, of both themselves and their children.
Kiseohart cited
some, quite demoralizing examples in other .institutions, with which you are
doubtless familiar, and is hopeful that tho ideals of the Institute may react
favorably both upon Princeton and other institutions throughout the country.
Y.e oan certainly do no more important service.
This article is protected by copyright and has been removed.
The citation for the original is:
"Expansion." The Princetonian (Princeton, NJ), January 16, 1935.
THE
ALAKSON f i .
H O u k lT O N
INSTITUTE
(F O U N D E D
FOR A D V A N C E D
B Y L O U IS BA M BERG ER A N D M R S . F E L IX
STUDY
TRU STEES
FU LD , 1 9 3 0 )
Chairman
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
O F F IC E
H . M A A SS \
Vice-Ckakman
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
A L E X I S CA RR EL
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
W ALTER W . STEW A RT
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
Vice-Chairman
F E L IX FR A N K F U R T E R
J U L I U S F R IE D E N W A L D
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
CA BLE A D D R E S S : V A N S T IT U T E P R I N C E T O N
KEW
JE R S E Y
Treasurer
ALAN SO N B . H O U G H T O N
IR A A . S C H U R
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
Assistant Treasurer
HERBER T H . M A A SS
F L O R E N C E R . S A B IN
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
Secretary
W ALTER W . STEW A RT
PER C Y S . STR A U S
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
January 21, 1935
Assistant Secretary
ABRAHAM
J O H N R . H A R D IN
FLEX N ER
O SW A LD V E B L E N
L E W IS H . W EED
L IF E
Director o f the Institute
TRU STEES
L O U IS BA M BERG ER
M R S . F E L IX FU LD
Dear Dr. Eiefler:
Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter of the nineteenth to
Mr. Frankfurter.
There is not the faintest possibility that your status or standing
will he in any wise reconsidered except, as I hope, to your ultimate advantage.
Frankfurter has simply had a brain-storm, not, I regret to say, the first,
but the last.
Professor Veblen, who was present at the meeting and to whom he also
wrote, has come to see me and has described Frankfurter’s conduct as ^outrageous t
This morning I have a letter from one of the members of the Board, from which I
quote the following:
"I was surprised that Frankfurter should have displayed such
bad taste at the last meeting.
There is no question but that he was
absolutely wrong in his contention.”
I hope that you will dismiss the matter from your mind and under no
circumstances permit Frankfurter to inveigle you into a correspondence.
I feel
ashamed that any such incident should have marred the beginning of your connection
with the Institute.
It is the only thing of the kind that has ever happened and
has shocked everyone who witnessed it as much as it disturbed you, but you need not
fear its recurrence.
With all good wishes and warm regards.
Tery sincerely yours,
Dr. Winfield W. Eiefler
Office of the Economic Adviser
Boom 7219, Commerce Building
Washi np-hnn. D. C.
C 0 P7
----
January 22, 1933
Dear Dr. Hexner:
I am enclosing copies of sabsequsnt cor
respondence with Mr. Frankfurter*
It seems
to me that this buries the whole incident and
that so far as I am concerned we can forget
it.
Very truly yours,
( Sgd)
Winfield W. Riefler
Dr. Abraham Flexner, Director
Institute for Advanced Study
20 Hassaa Street
Princeton, New Jersey
J&jmary 22,
1935
>ear Mr* fYankfiirter:
It is ny ton to thank you for your cordial
not© of January 21• It dispels m p apprehen
sions that I fait.
I ara oa^er for an opportunity
to talk ovar plana for tho now School with you.
Very sincerely yours,
Professor Felix >T*mkfurtor
l*aw chool
Harvard University
Gatabrid^e, liaasaclmsetts
£ato iktjool of l^arbarb Untoenrttp,
Cam&rtbge,
Ma#&.
Ja n u a ry 2 1 , 1 9 5 5 .
My dear Riefler:
Thank you f o r y o u r l e t t e r o f th e n in e te e n th .
My l e t t e r meant t o im ply no more th a n i t a c t u a l l y
s a id .
There i s no q u e s tio n w h atev er a s t o y o u r " s ta tu s ',1
n o r th e e a g e rn e ss w ith which I , i n common w ith th e r e s t o f
th e B oard, v o te d f o r your e l e c t i o n .
The view s I e x p re sse d
i n my l e t t e r were s o le l y my own, and were conveyed t o you,
a s I s t a t e d i n my l e t t e r , because I th o u g h t t h a t candor as
t o a m a tte r e f f e c t in g you was c a lle d f o r betw een you and
me.
W ith a l l good w ish es,
Very s in c e r e ly y o u rs ,
<£3
D r. W in fie ld W. R i e f l e r
THE
ALAN SON
B.
INSTITUTE FOR A D V A N C E D
STUDY
HOUGHTON
(F O U N D E D B Y L O U I S B A M B E R G E R A N D M R S . F E L I X F U L D , 1 9 3 0 )
Chairman
f ra n k
H ERBERT H . M A A SS
O F F IC E
Vice-Chairman
ayvelotte
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
20 N ASSAU S T R E E T
A L E X I S CA RR E L
W ALTER W . STEW A RT
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
Vice-Chairman
S A M U E L D . X E 1D E 5D 089
C A BL E A D D R E S S ; V A N S I I T U T E
P R IN C E T O N
NEW
F E L IX FR A N K FU R T E R
JE R S E Y
Treasurer
J U L I U S F R I E D E N W ALD
J O H N R . H A R D IN
ALANSON B. H O U G H TO N
IR A A . S C H U R
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
H E R B ER T H . M A A SS
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
F L O R E N C E R . S A B IN
Secretary
W ALTER W , STEW A RT
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
PERCY S . STR A U S
Assistant Secretary
O SW A LD V E B L E N
January 19, 1935
Director o f the Institute
L E W IS H . W EED
L IF E
TRU STEES
L O U IS B A M B ER G ER
M R S . F E L IX FU LD
Dear Dr. Riefler:
I received this morning a copy of a note which Professor Frankfurter
wrote you.
Unfortunately Professor Frankfurter, while expressing his own views,
does not tell the whole truth.
The Board was practically a unit against him.
In the School of Mathematics there are salary differences at every stage from
the assistants up to the very top.
This is not the first time that Frankfurter has violated the
semi-confidential nature of a Board meeting.
to be in the slightest degree disturbed.
I hope you will not permit yourself
Your associates are perfectly happy,
and I am enclosing you a copy of a letter which I received yesterday from the
Princeton social science group.
We look forward to a visit from you and your wife in the
near future and beyond that to a happy and scholarly association for many years
to come.
With all good wishes
Sincerely yours
Dr. Winfield Riefler
Office of the Economic Adviser
Room 7219, Commerce Building
Washington, D, C.
AF:ESB
PRINCETON UNIVERSE TY
Princeton New Jersey
Department of Economics and Sooial Institutions
January 16, 1935
Dr. Abraham Flexner, Director
The Institute for Advanced Study
Princeton, N. J.
Dear Dr. Flexner:
The senior members of the Department of Economies and Social
Institutions of Prinoeton University wish to express to you, and through
you to the Trustees of The Institute for Advanced Study, their appreciation
of your decision to establish in Prinoeton the School of Economics and
Politics, announcement of which appears this morning in the press.
That the
present memorandum is informal rather than official does not at all Indicate
that as a departmental group we are lacking in appreciation of the importance
to Princeton University of this new development.
Rather, we feel that our
informality in this memorandum is quite in accord with the informality of
intercourse which, in the interest of sound scholarship of the highest order,
it is hoped will develop between members of the new School of Economics and
Politics and members of the appropriate departments of Princeton University.
*t hardly needs to be said that the presence of the School of Economics and
Politics of the Institute for Advaneed Study should have a stimulating effect
upon the scholarly work of our own staff, and we hope that we shall be able
to contribute in seme measure toward the attainment of the ideals of the new
project.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed)
E. W.
FRANK
JAMES
C. R.
KEMMERER
D. GRAHAM
G. SMITH
WHITTLESEY
(Signed)
DAVID A. McCABE
FRANK HAIGH DIXON
STANLEY E. HOWARD
J. DOUGLAS BROWN
Jamary
19, 1935
Dear Dr. Jlexner:
/Enclosed ia & copy of ngr response to Mr.
Frankfurter.
It has been greatly roodified
from what I had in mind by our telephone con
versation.
I still have difficulty in under
standing the occasion for the episode.
Sincerely yours.
Or.
Hexner, Director
Institute for Advanced Study
20 Nassau Street
Princeton, Hew Jersey
Jwamry If* 1935
Dtar Hr* Tnuiid^rltrt
four le t t s r of January 16 lias diaturfcod
smi
grm tly though I r«ap«ct the frunkness which
iopollod you to w rito.
If thoro is any -uas-
tion of mgr ftolai or standing I would prefer
%h® Board to rooonsidsr tho whola *aatt«r &§
quickly ifc® pesatlAft*
Hiaaik you for your good «idi«i«
that wo
I know
hamm m unparaliolod opportunity in
tho now School*
I an still
m ttod oraotionally
to smtolle aerric* that I an not y«t in a position
to ho anti roly objectiro about th* situation.
fory truly yours*
Mr* folix Tm s&fwtVwt
Law School
Harvard University
Cmabridgo, Haoaaohusott*
.to £M )ool of ^ a r b a r b Umberjsitp,
Cambridge, iHflatf*.
January 16, 195S.
My dear Riefler:
Ever since I have been on th is faculty, for now a l i t t l e over
twenty years, i t has been my practice to t e l l acquaintances whes® names
have come up for our consideration d irec tly what doubts or d iffic u ltie s
I may have had'4to raise in faculty meeting.
This avoids misunderstanding
through the dangers of misreport, however innocent through in d irect tran s
mission.
That practice of candor seems to me equally appropriate for you
and me in the case of the In stitu te of Advanced Study.
Therefore, I should lik e you to know th at I welcomed your ac
cession to the In stitu te and voted fo r i t with pleasure and hope. But I
voted against the stipend proposed by Dr. Flexner, not because i t was too
high, but because i t was higher than th a t given to your colleagues in the
School of P o litics and Economics. For I deem inequality of treatment
among men of substantially sim ilar age and scholarly d istin ctio n as in
imical to the aims of a society of scholars.
This is not the occasion
to argue the matter, I simply wanted you to know precisely what my a t
titu d e was towards your coming to the In stitu te and to the conditions of
your coming.
I f you have to leave government — I cannot conceal my regret
th a t you are doing so, in view of my great in te re st in a permanent c iv il
service — I am at le a st happy th at you are giving yourself to scholar
ship.
With a l l good wishes,
D r. W in fie ld
Very sincerely yours,
W. R ie f le r
February l*+# 1935
Dear Ur. Slexner:
The severance of lay official connections here
has finally been ironed out and qy resignation
has been accepted as cf February 15* 1935*
1
would appreciate it if ray accession to the staff
of the Institute for Advanced Study is made as
of the same date*
ie have had some further inkling of the Howard
situation from the newspapers*
Tou know you have
our sympathies*
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Abraham SIearner. Director
Institute for Advanced Study
20 Bassau Street
Princeton, Hew Jersey
THE
A IA N S O N J B .
i
INSTITUTE
FOR A D V A N C E D S T U D Y
HOUGHTON
(F O U N D E D b y L O U I S B A M B E R G E R A N D M R S . F E L I X F U L D , 1 9 3 0 )
I Chairman
TRU STEES
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
H ^ R B E R r H . MAASS
O F F IC E
Vice-Chairman
W ALTER
w.
EDGAR 5 . B A M B E R G E R
A L E X I S CA RR EL
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
S IE W A R T
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
Vice-Chairman
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
CA BLE A D D R E S S : V A N S T I I U T E
P R IN C E T O N
NEW
F E L IX F R A N K F U R T E R
J U L I U S F R IE D E N W A L D
JE R S E Y
J O H N R . H A R D IN
Treasurer
A LANSON B. H O U G H TO N
IR A A . S C H U R
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
Assistant Treasurer
H ERBER T H . M A A SS
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
F L O R E N C E R . S A B IN
Secretary
W ALTER W , STEW ART
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
PER CY S . STR A U S
F e b ru a ry 1 5 , 1935
Assistant Secretary
ABRAHAM
O SW A LD V E B LEN
L E W I S H . WEED
FLEX N ER
L IF E
Director o f the Institute
TRU STEES
L O U IS B A M B ER G ER
M R S . F E L IX FU LD
D ear D r. R ie f le r :
I have your k in d n o te o f F e b ru a ry 1 4 .
W ith y o u r p e rm is sio n we w i l l
f i x th e d a te o f your a c c e s s io n to th e s t a f f o f th e I n s t i t u t e a t F e b ru a ry 1 , 1 9 3 5 .
You w i l l re c e iv e your f i r s t s a la r y check tow ards th e end o f th e month l e s s 5 ^
th a t you w ill pay to th e T eachers In s u ra n c e and A n n u ity A s s o c ia tio n o f Am erica
tow ards your r e t i r i n g a llo w an c e , th e I n s t i t u t e p a y in g an eq u al sum in a d d itio n
th e r e t o .
I sjn sen d in g you th e p a p e rs which a r e to b e f i l l e d o u t and r e tu r n e d to
us.
I f e e l th e g r e a t e s t s a t i s f a c t i o n n o t o n ly i n y o u r jo i n in g th e I n s t i t u t e
fo rm a lly b u t in your r e le a s e from th e heavy b u rd en s which you have b een c a r r y in g
f o r some y e a r s p a s t .
l i e fa llo w .
I hope t h a t you can le a r n how to r e la x and l e t y o u r mind
You a r e j u s t a t th e age when freedom from r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w ill me3,n
most to y o u r f u tu r e developm ent.
When th e w eath er im proves, we lo o k fo rw ard to h a v in g you and y o u r w ife
come to P r in c e to n f o r a w eek-end, b u t f o r th e moment e v e ry th in g i s so messy t h a t
i t would be no fu n .
Thank you f o r your re f e r e n c e to th e Howard s i t u a t i o n .
v e ry u n p le a s a n t p e rs o n a l q u e stio n s i n th e Board from th e o u t s e t .
There have been
I managed to
g e t r i d o f some o f them and to s o f tp e d a l o th e r s , b u t in consequence o f a s l i p
Dr. Riefler
February 15, 1935
the torrents were unloosed at the meeting last Friday, and I felt that the
thing was costing me more than it was worth.
Plea.se give my greetings to your wife, and believe me, with all good
wishes,
Sincerely your friend,
Dr. ¥iniield V/. Riefler
Room 7219, C o m e r c e Building
Washington, D. C.
AFjSSB
ISLAND INN
HOBE SOUND, FLORIDA
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THE
ALAN SU N
INSTITUTE FOR A D V A N C E D
(F O U N D E D B Y L O U I S
ft. H O U G H T O N
BA M B ER G ER . A N D
M R S . F E L IX
STUDY
FU LD , 1 9 3 0 )
TRU STEES
FR A N K
Chairman
O F F IC E
H.
HERBERT
M A A SS
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
Vice-Chairman
V alter
iW .
D.
ALEXIS CA8EEL
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
PRINCETO N, N E W JER SEY
STEW A RT
CA BLE A D D R E S S : V A N S T IT U T E P R I N C E T O N
Vice-Chairman
SAM UEL
K . AYDELOTTE
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
NEW
JU L IU S
JE R S E Y
F R IE D E N W A L D
J 0 H N R * H A R D IN
ALANSON B . H O U G H TO N
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
L E ID E S D O R F
H E R B ER T I I . M A A SS
Treasurer
W I N F I E L D W . R IB F L E R
IR A A . SC H U R
May 3 9, 1957
Assistant Treasurer
W ALTER W .
FL0RENCER SABIN
STEW ART
PER CY S . STR A U S
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
O SW A LD V E BL E N
Secretary
L E W IS H . W EED
ABRAHAM
FLEXNER
L IF E T R U ST E E S
Director o f the Institute
L O U IS B A M B ER G ER
M R S . F E L IX
FU LD
Dear Wins
I was very happy to receive your note of April 18 and to learn that
you had had a smooth crossing.
I hope you and Ifynors had a lovely tine and did
not talk too much about Eocles, Roosevelt, the Supreme Court, the Federal Reserve,
the gold standard, and other forbidden topics.
I was greatly distressed to learn that Mynors* father had died during
his last week here.
I t was quite heroic that he carried on until he left as
bravely as he did.
You and Jtynors missed some of the most beautiful weather that
God Almighty ever created this side of heaven.
*t has been absolutely superb,
beginning the day after the garden party, which had, alasi to be held indoors,
but was a great success nonetheless.
Everybody came and stayed and absolutely
cleaned us out of sandwiohes, eake, punch, and all other refreshments.
The
famine would of course have occurred earlier in the afternoon if you and %4iors
had been on hand.
We have seen Dorothy several times since you left.
Her domestic
problems have been a good deal complicated by the two rabbits, but they are just
exactly what she needs in order to keep her from bemoaning your absence.
Saturday
evening she came to a dinner we gave for Madariaga, and, as you will not be
W. W. R.
May 3, 1937
m
g «•
surprised to hear, she was the only woman, there whose talk was on a level with
that of Corwin, Dodds and Madariaga himself.
I am more and more beginning to
wonder whether we should not have made Dorothy a professor and allowed you to
stay at home to care for the boys, the household, and the rabbits.
It is up
to you to oonvinoe me to the oontrary.
Mrs. Flexner is fine and we get excellent news from Jean and Eleanor.
Mrs. Bailey eo&tinues to preserve her wonted equilibrium, but Miss Eichelser is
as jittery as Henry Morgenthau.
She is sailing for her first European trip next
Saturday a week, and between getting together her trousseau, letter of credit,
passport, and reading guide books, she is becoming increasingly useless as a
member of the office staff.
Earle has been down here since you left.
His doctor assures me that
he is perfectly well, and though he is taking things easy there is not a thing
about him, either in appearance or in what he says, to suggest that he was ever
ill .
We had a good talk Saturday afternoon about some work in which he is
interested - important work on whioh his mind has been playing for years.
The Institute - men, women and children - join in wishing you the
best of health, an easy time, and a safe return*
Ever sincerely,
Professor Winfield W. Riefler
c/o Finance Committee
League of Nations
Geneva, Switzerland
af/ mce
P*S. Since dictating the above I have received yours of April 4. I am very
happy that you have found the situation improved in London. Geneva I know well
and it is, as you say, a lovely situation. Don't leave it without having made
a tour of the lake and having seen Vevey and Montreux,ete. Many years ago,
W. W. R.
May 3, 1937
-3 -
when Anne and I first visited Geneva, I was walking along the street and
passed a most inviting bakery. 1 went in and bought a small cherry pie,
osane out and ate it sitting on the curbstone. That is one of my most vivid,
as it is one of my earliest recollections of the plaoe.
Meritt and Johnnie told me yesterday that they are expecting bids
today.
The enclosed is a copy of a note whioh 1 received this morning from
Governor Norman.
A. F,
Bank of England
26th April 1937
Dear Dr. Flexner:
Ifynors has returned from his stay at the Institute
full of the kindness nhioh he received at your hands.
His three
months with Dr. Riefler appear to have given him an ideal
introduction to the Amerioan scene and many of its most interesting
personalities.
I should like to thank you most sincerely for
making his visit to the United States so valuable and so enjoyable.
With kind regards,
I am,
Yours sincerely,
(Signed)
Dr* Abraham Flexner
M. C. Norman
‘1
I
A LANSON
B.
\
HOUGHTON
Chairman
1.
•; THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
»
< |
(F O U N D E D B Y L O U IS B A M B ER G ER A N D M R S . F E L I X F U L D , I 9 3 0 )
TRU STEES
FR A N K AYDELOTTE
O F F IC E
HERBERT H . M A A SS
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
A L E X I S CA RR EL
Vice-Chairman
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
Treasurer
F E L IX FR A N K F U R T E R
CA BLE AD DRESS : V A N S T IT U T E P R I N C E T O N , N E W
JE R S E Y
J U L I U S F R IE D E N W A L D
J O H N R . H A R D IN
IR A . A . S C H U R
ALANSON B. H O U G H T O N
Assistant Treasurer
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
F R A N K A YDELOTTE
HERBER T H . M A A SS
Secretary
F L O R E N C E R . B A B IN
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
W A L T E R W . STEW A R T
Assistant Secretary
ABRAHAM
Magnetawan, via Burks Falls
Ontario, Canada
August 10, 1957
FLEX N ER
Director o f the Institute
PER C Y S . STR A U S
L E W IS H . W EED
HONORARY TRU STEES
L O U IS B A M B ER G ER
M R S . F E L IX FU LD
Dear Riefler:
I have had several talks with Tom Jones on the subject of economics.
I don't know whether you know that he wa3 at one time Professor of Economics at the
University of Glasgow.
That was of course in the beginning of his career.
Since
he went to London to be Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet at the beginning of the war,
he has had over a period of more than twenty years close contact with the British
economists.
etc.
group.
He knows intimately Keynes, Clay, Pigou, Robbins, Leith-Ross, Norman,
I have asked him who, in his opinion, is the ablest economist of the whole
He replied without a moaent' s hesitation, "Leith-Ross'1, who, as you doubt
less know, is financial adviser to the Treasury.
I asked him about Clay.
thinks that Clay is in capacity not superior to a good university professor.
He
Leith-
Ross he regards as a man with a really first-rst e mind, with a great personality,
and fertile in ideas.
Of course, he did not know that I was thinking of anyone
in particular for Princeton.
He did, however, feel strongly that we should develop
the subject in the very near future in the way in which we have developed mathematics
in order that there might bs somewhere in this world a great economic center of
thinkers such as does not now exist anywhere.
Do you and Stewart know Leith-Ross
and, if so, what is your own opinion as to the way he would measure up as against
the other persons named?
I don't want to bother you with letters, but it won't hurt you to
August 10, 1957
Vi.V/.R.
2
drop me a line on this subject, I hope.
I understand that Miss Wise, tired of waiting for her errant chief,
has eloped to England, but, as one might well know, she has eloped alone just the
way you did, and she will probably come home in six weeks as homesick as you did,
Leidesdorf’s son was not admitted to the University of Pennsylvania.
I wonder if you heard from Willits any particulars or whether he exerted himself in
the matter.
Do you know the School of Business Administration at Dartmouth?
do you know anyone in it?
If so,
I am going to drop a line to Earle, who is in that neigh
borhood, and he may wangle a place there for the Leidesdorf boy.
We have a full house at the moment.
Here is the roster:
Jean and
Paul, Eleanor, T.J., Mr. Orrick of the Oxford Press, Vera Caspar (scenario writer),
Franz Spielman (Viennese architect), and the inevitable Mrs. Bailey;
also, the two
maids from Tuskegee, Robert the chauffeur from Honolulu, and two dogs (curses!)}
but
the list will begin to melt away at the end of this week.
I ho pe all goos well with the Riefler household.
up?
If so, did you make any progress?
Write me ever so briefly on these points.
With all good wishes,
Ever sincerely,
G . d~ <
Mr. Winfield W. Riefler
Orleans, Massachusetts
AF:ESB
Did Stewart turn
T H E INSTITUTE FOR A D V A N C E D
O F F IC E R S
ALANSON
B.
STUDY
TRU STEES
(F O U N D E D B Y L O U IS B A M B ER G ER A N D M R S . F E L I X F U L D , 1 9 3 0 )
HOUGHTON
F R A N K A YDELOTTE
O F F IC E
Chairman
EDGAR S . B A M B E R G E R
20 N ASSAU S T R E E T
A L E X I S CARREL
ABRAHAM FLEX N ER
Vice-Chairman
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
F E L IX FR A N K F U R T E R
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
Treasurer
CA BLE A D D R E S S : V A N S T IT U T E P R I N C E T O N , N E W
J U L I U S F R IE D E N W A L D
JE R S E Y
J O H N R . H A R D IN
IRA . A . S C H U R
A LAN SON B . H O U G H TO N
Assistant Treasurer
S A M U E L D . L E ID E S D O R F
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
HERBERT H . M A A SS
Secretary
F L O R E N C E R . S A B IN
W ALTER W . STEW ART
E S T H E R S . B A IL E Y
Assistant Secretary
ABRAHAM
PERCY S. STR A U S
Magnetawan, via Burks Palls
Ontario, Canada
August 5, 1957
FLEX N ER
Director o f the Institute
L E W IS H . W EED
H O NORARY TRU STEES
L O U IS B A M B ER G ER
M R 8 . F E L IX FU LD
Dear "Win
Yours of July 28 came to camp while I was paying a week's visit
to Mr. Bamberger and Mrs. Fuld.
They are both well and enjoying the quiet and
beauty of the great St. Lawrence which their hotel overlooks.
I had previously
sent them at Mr. Bamberger's request a memorandum which you will see later - I
with it now - outlining the future of the Institute, as I
don't want
now see it, subject, of course, to such changes as experience and wisdom suggest.
I put in the very first place the development of the School of
Economics and Politics.
They were very much pleased with the whole memorandum
and told me to go ahead.
I am therefore enormously interested in your feeling
that Stewart may be "in the mood to drop CaBe Pomeroy and come with us".
If he
has paid you the promised visit, let me know whether this subject came up and, if
so, how it stands.
Meanwhile, thank you very much for writing in behalf of Mr. Leidesdorf to Joe Willits.
I am glad that you are rid of Washington and Princeton for the time
being, and I do hope that you will give your family a chance to become acquainted
with you.
You have some nice traits, about which your Deezie has probably
forgotten if she ever knew.
horses greatly intrigues me.
dance.
The mental picture of her jumping over the saw
We shall make that a feature of our next Institute
W.W.R.
August 5, 1957
We have at the moment a full household:
2
Tom Jones, who is
spending a month, Jean and Paul, Eleanor, Orrick of the Oxford Press, the
inevitable E.S.B., and the equally inevitable A.P.
left for Salzburg yesterday.
Anne, alas, deserted and
She was torn two ways, but Salzburg won, and I
am glad it did, for it is the one great dissipation of her life, and I do not
begrudge it to her.
Give my love to Dorothy and the boys, and believe me
Ever sincerely,
Mr.Winfield W.Riefler
Orleans, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
AF jESB
Orleans, kaaa.,
July 20, 1937*
Dear Dr. FI.o n o n
This io a flno tijo -to beanm/orin^, your nice letter
of thp
19th. My tardiness, howwor, haa not appliod to tho Loidoadorf matter.
Ad soon as 1 received your lottos1 X wrote Jo wllllte \gutto strongly
and trust that ho has done hio best. I have not hoard from him but I
should think that a question
culty.
of thla kind wold cause little diffi
I c^roe v;ith you tliat Ur, toideodorf ia praatically a a&intp
and I an glad to do anything that I poeaibly can for him*
Mica S/ioo writes iaa that our house is undor way. 1 waa oo
v<$iy busy trying to handle international financial
lnr^ton without loain ; e tiro contact 1th
troubles in '.Vaah
my family at 3apo Ood
that I did not havo tl*o to fuss with it any more, ao I alined tho
contract and told thorn to r-o ahead.
Thia paat nook 1 havo looked
ovor tbo final plana dovq carofully and havo docidod that tho laot
chan^oo ao©o all to the ~ood. They inoludo oome ^aina aa well aa
loaooa and bring about a aoving of nearly *2000. How I want to for
got about it until it ia finished but I know X will not bo able to.
After my tele hone oonvwaation with you I flow to I on York
/
and aaw ail tor Stewart# It certainly aeeiaod to ao that ho waa in the
mood to drop Oaae
omeroy and come with ua. Ho waa about to leave on
vacation ao I havo not hoard from him since* However, ho promised to
ooiio and via it ua hero at Orleans during tho laat week in July, He aaid
ho waa ^oing on a oea trip with a friend of hia who owned a yacht and
^ h a t th o y iTOiild sail i n t o o u r h a rb o r and pay n s a s a i l a t o u t p o in t*
As a resultt I havo boon working ay hood off t i y i n g t o g o t th© living
room in shape for so distinguished a c a l l e r * I t 1 a alzaoat ready V:-ut I
haven*t seen him y e t .
I*vo boon her©' c o n tlm e u s ly noil1 f o r twelve dfyo * They have
b e an opnnt o s s t l y
.si&Xnn 3ap. Start16M^ioo^>ttlng tb o r l a c e
in to
sh ap e * X th in k t h a t a t ’a a t we havo oade ^ f 'f io iu v r i p ro g re s s so t h a t '
no\? wo con b e n in t o "vacate”* X havo h a rd ly d a re d lo o k a t sy. o o r r e s f e n dace oo f a r f o r f e a r there eif$ti
ho saaething t h a t would r©.|tUre a y
attention*
Henry
M orgentliau certainly needed a l o t o f consfc1tation f o r
a while* First» the t rench blew a sparit plug and thou it seemed as
though evssy count ly on earth was abotrk to send a finanoiil delegation
to visit the Treasury* I tried to get through it aa fast aa I co-*ld
and finally aajiagod t© shi^ Homy .off to Honolulu # I& W 6 he can con*
m lt tho laiJciki girls about his financial pro^lesas*
Ifou laay g lo a t a l l you want t o a b o u t th o way Anne ffcisks ab o u t
b u t f o r s h e e r f r i s k i n e s s , 1 *1 1 m atbh
beyo s e t a y saw h o rs e s up i n a l i n e
jay D oesie a g a in s t th e f i e l d * Tbo
th e o t h e r day and fell© jn©ned o v e r
t h e n i n a m n n e r n e t tmbecoiaing t o j ess© Qs&ens# I f t h e i n s t i t u t e la
e v e r fo rc e d t o b u ild - u p i t s p r e s t i g e by e n t e r in g th e f i e l d o f in te r**
c o l l e g i a t e a t h l e t i c c o e ip e titlo n , I ao v e t h a t «s e n t e r a t© aa composed
sie h o ld in g down th o an ch o r p o s itio n !
Magnetawan, via Burks Falls
Ontario, Canada
July 19 1957
,
Dear Wins
I have been wondering where you have been arid what you have
been doing, and I suppose Dorothy is as much in the dark about your comings
and goings and doings as I am - poor girlI
What a different man you would
have been if you had married Anne, and what a different man I would have
been if I had married Dorothy!
contracted.
I would have expanded and you would have
Is it too late to arrange a swap?
But it will have to be
managed with diplomacy.
I am moved particularly to write you this morning, not because
I era domestically unhappy, which is not the case, nor because I think
Dorothy is domestically unhappy, which I am sure she is not, but because
Mr. Leideadorf ccrae into the office the other day to renew a subject which
he had broached to me severe! times, but not definitely.
Ke has a boy,
Arthur, a fine, upstanding, husky fellow, who was graduated in June from,
Blair Academy and hopes now to prepare himself to go into his father's
business - one of the most important of its kind in the east.
For that
purpose the boy wants to go to the Wharton School at Pennsylvania.
It is
eo late in the season that I em afraid an ordinary application may receive
little attention, and I suggested to Mr. Leidesdorf that you might have
some influence with Young or Will'- .s which would result in the boy's
admission.
He ia a good boy and hie father is as near a saint as anyone
I know - a wiae, unselfish and absolutely upright human being, doing business
of a mo-st responsible character with some of the largest and most influential
concerns in Hew York.
If you can take this up promptly with WillJ, ,s or
July 19, 1957
W. f. R.
Young and find a plaee for the boy, won't you writ© Mr. Leidesdorf the
reaulta of your efforts to his office, Pershing Square Building,
New York City?
We have been very happy up here this summer.
The weather has
been really superb and as I dictate I look out upon a mirror-like lake,
in which the heavens are duplicated.
quite mad about the place.
Morse has been up for a week and is
We are going to give you and Dorothy a chance,
but there will be a time limit and you will have to say "y©8* or Hno",
no matter whether the Treasury wants to see you or not.
If Morgenthau can
take his whole darned family and go to Honolulu you can either stay at
Orleans or come to Ahmic.
I see Ben daily.
Chancellor Kirkland has been quite ill and
there is grave doubt as to whether he will come up this summer.
was summoned by telegraph a week ago.
Elizabeth
Ben is restless and unhappy, but he
was pleased the other day when I received a letter from a Greek scholar in
Athens, asking to come to Jhrinceton to work with Ben.
Of course, we will
take him the year after next, when he wishes to come.
Anne is perfectly splendid, frisking about like a young girl
swimming, singing, and carrying on as if she were twenty-one, whieh I some
times suspect she is.
She joins me in love to you and Dorothy and the boys.
Ever affectionately,
Professor Winfield W. Riefler
Orleans, Cape Cod
Massachusetts
February 2, igjg
2e*r Dr. Hexnert
I have read Stuart Chase*s article "Word-Trouble Among the TScon©mists* in the Secwtimr farcers. In general I think 1 lilt# it* Also,
I think X agree with i t ....$he hesitation which I feel in committing
myself thus in words arises largely, I suppose, from the irritation
of a specialist reading the work# of a populariaer. fo me the contents
are not new, They are essentially ^hat 1 learned when I first tackled
economics .in my freshman and sophomore years at Aafc»rst. I think it is
true ttmt oth«?r placet did not then put so raudi. emphasis on bein^ criti
cal of one’ s preconceptions. I had imagined that this deficient?/ had
generally been rectified in the interval, but it m y be that those things
still marit reiteration. Personally I have always tried to keep in aiad
the fact that 'the words we use art likely to be more general than is
justified by the specific subjects of which we are. speaking and that I
should always 'tty %o eonfin* m? generalizations to my specific mibjees#
Insofar a® possible* l a ® alvo aware that I frequently fail' rayself in
this regard and that like Chase I am inclined to charge ny contra**®
when I disagree with them with similar failure.
% own feeling about the whole subject is as follows. Words at
their best are elusive and newer furnish a completely satisfying medium
for expressing our thoughts* ’flftey are, nevertheless, the best mechanism
of communication which we possess* It is essential that their limita
tions ba b o m in mind.
the various attributes of a scholar -»
creativenass, integrity, objectivity* disinterestedness —* self-criticism
and consciousness of one’ s hidden assumptions must also be given a very
hif& rank. > I am sure that this <fuality or attribute of scholarship Is
vetr old and cart be fcnmd as'a characteristic distinguishing the better
from the poorer scholar since time'immeasorial* At the present time we
are witnessing an
to bring this old and iaportant characteristic
out intc the open by skiving it a new name# The group **;om ^tuart .0ha.se
baa joined call it ®s#mantiC3H .and insist that scientific terms aast be
defined in terms of "referents"* The justification for doing this is
'that words will be used with greater precision.,. I as sure that sodh
.3*
prwpielon in a desirable objective, but I. don’t know wh@th.er th© net
result of their efforts will contribute to that end or will simply
raise another series of controversies over unessentials* Certainly i f
economists begin ar^uinr: whether there r*re or are not "referents" for
tome concept they are u»itt£# they will find themselves in tho same mire
from which the *semantic" school --reposes to extract them.
Sincerely .yours, -
Winfield W. Hiefler
Dr. Abraham ’
H.oxrier
20 Hassftu Street
Princeton, K. J«
THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
P R IN C E T O N , N E W JE R SE Y
January 29, 1938
Bear Win:
Mr. Maass is greatly impressed by
Mr. Stuart Chase’s article in the December Harpers
which X am herewith sending to you.
Glance through
it, and send me, if you please, a paragraph or two
telling me what you think of it.
It seems to me no
new thing that words should be used loosely, for, as
conditions change, people do not stop to invent new
words but put new meanings into the old ones.
This
it seems to me Chase does not take into adequate con
sideration.
Am I right or wrong?
Very sincerely yours,
Professor Winfield W. Riefler
69 Alexander Street
Princeton, Hew Jersey
AF:ESB
ABRAHAM PLEXNER
MAONCTAWAN, VIA BUMKS FALLS
ONTARIO, CANADA
July 13, 1938
Dear Vint
Your letter of July 14, from Orleans, crossed
mine.
It is extraordinarily interesting, especially whet
you say of the way the League has recooped its influence in
one direction after losing influence in another.
As to the further organization of the economics
proup, I think we must get together and talk.
I want to do
what is wise and right and sound, hut, at the moment what I
want and need is rest after a strenuous Suropean trip, and
leisure to think very calmly.
You m y "be right on every
point you m ke, but, naturally, I should ~ish to hear what
Stewart and perhaps Clay and Wolman and Warren think.
Your
attitude is a most generous one - marvelously so, but I don’ t
want to take you up on it until we have all had a chance to
canvass the thing, for when we act we cannot undo our decisions
How l*t us chuck the whole business for the next
six weeks or so.
Go ahead with your fishing and woodsawing
while I go ahead with mine.
Remake the acquaintance of your
family, and pride yourself upon your success as a m tchmaker.'/”
„
With love to you all,
?Sver sincerely,
d - d ',
-----------------------------
(**
AB RA HAM FL E X N E R
MAGNETAWAN, VIA BURKS FALLS
O n t a r io , C a n a d a
July 1 6 , 1938
/
Dear V/m:
/
' ^ ''
^
I had yesterday morning a lette r from M r.
Stewart,
from which I quote the fo llo w in g :
"Y'e arrived this .morning via Normandie after
a strenuous out satisfacto ry v i s i t .
!,I am wondering i f you received a cable I sent
from London which was to have been delivered to you
on your a r r iv a l .
It re ad , »vy answer is yes wholeheartedly end without re servatio n , and I am
delighted to have made the d e c i s i o n .”
I cannot t e l l you how g ratefu l I fe e l and how profoundly
I am moved by th is evidence of h is confidence and f a i t h , for he has
brooded long over h is d ec isio n and, fo rtu n a te ly ,
which rewards your patience and m ine.
it is a de cisio n
I aro not often stirred as
th is le tte r has stirred me, so that for the moment I shell say no
more than th at, for the sake of the subject in which you are
in t e re s te d , for your own sake, and for the sake of the In s t it u t e ,
I am very, very happy.
You have been long- suffering, but now at la st
you have
your reward in the close asso ciatio n which you w il l have w ith your
teacher and f r i e n d , whom you love and trust and admire.
Let us nov; show the same patience in the further steps
we take as we have shown in the steps we have taken up to th is time.
I t is so
important not to make a mistake that we must look at every
proposal from every point of view end act only a fter the deepest
re fle c t io n of which we a l l may be capable.
Should I hear further from Mr.
know.
Stewart I w i l l le t you
Meanwhile drop me a lin e i f you fin d time to let me know
how th e work a t Geneve f a r e d and how you and D orothy and th e c h ild r e n
are.
We a r e a l l w e ll and e n jo y in g p e r f e c t l y su p erb w e a th e r.
Anne i s p a r t i c u l a r l y happy b ecau se she i s engaged i n p u ttin g up a
new c a b in i n th e woods, in which we hope you and D orothy w i l l some
day pay us. a v i s i t .
Ever a f f e c t i o n a t e l y ,
P. S. The cablegram to which S tew art r e f e r s n e v e r reach ed me, so
t h a t I d id n o t know o f h i s d e c is io n u n t i l h i s l e t t e r , w r i t t e n a f t e r
h i s r e t u r n , came to Canada.
A. F.
O rleans, Mass&chusette
Ju ly 14, 1938
Dear Dr* 'Fl^xners
The fou r o f u» a rriv e d 'dom ay on th# M0RM£JIBIE#
p rise Dorothy was w aitin g on th® dock* Eh# *ould not
Princeton to drop ay luggage, but took me r ig h t up to
found H i m ’"is# and bad a welcome home such as no men
before*
To my u tte r sur*
even 1 s t me go to
the Cape where I
ever experienced
I t w h o a gri nd J r i j u I have been here two days near end f e e l ae
though Europe did not e x is t* In f a c t I have f a lle n so com pletely under
th e s p e ll of the Cape th a t l e s t night when I dress-ed and drove twentyf iv e m iles to h ^ b b Is to go to. Kew York to 9 ras#ting at th© National
Bureau I found out only a ft e r a rriv in g &t a derk s ta tio n th a t th ere i s no
wey of gettiisg o ff of the C&pe on Wednesdays evenings u n less one elks*
The session? o f th© D elegation on Business Depressions e t Geneva -.ere
the high spot of say tr ip * .'»■
• had fou r days o f d iscu ssion th a t wer*- as fin e
and on es high & le v e l as enyti ing I have ever experienced* At the l ast
minute C s rie r Goodrich was appointed a delegate to ^present the Interna
tio n a l Labor O ffic e snd he f e i t the s&ao f-bout them* The fa c t th at the
Lei^gus has lo s t p o litic ; 1 in flu en ce seems to have thrown i t back on the
one asset l e f t , nuaely its- a b ilit y to serve as cn in t e lle c t u a l center-* In
t h is case i t seems to be reaching the le v e l o f e. s u p e r - u n iv e r s it y E v e r y
one vtxs extremely -enthusiastic and-I .m looking forward to uy p a rtic ip a tio n
in the undertaking with great an ticip ation *
I lenrnerf from S t e ^ r t of h is cable to you on my a r r iv a l in Paris on
the da;: b efore w# /sailed* I t was grand oews and took a t e r r i f i c load o ff
ay h e a rt. Ste i.rt reported th a t'C la y was c e r tijily goiaag to leave the Benk
and hud almost made up h is mind t come »;ith us, but th a t he was holding
o f f fe a rin g th a t i t wf s too great a s a c r if ic e f o r Mrs* Clay* The fin al
word - i l l come in the autumn* I c e lle d up Clay from P?.ris to say goodbye
and add a ana word o f elcome and found him s t i l l In about the seme mood*
He was t e r r ib ly moved fend certf in ly seemed es thpugfa he was going to come
w ith us*- He repeated, however, th e t he *ould l e t us know d e fin ite ly in
th e autumn as he had promised you*
Dr. Floxnor
-8-
July-liv 1^38
In hit oato I fool strongly that wo do not «ant to urgo his te-tasr
up bio roots in England e* oophaoiso th* oopferatioa* Rathor, 1 fill n .
ought tc oaphaoiso with Mai tho continuity thst coming to uo would m m ia
hi* work. Thor© i& no danger with reopsct to Clay th*t ho will bo iin*
f eardliar *lth tho America situation or fail to identify himself with
AaoriCkn problems. Ho ha* always been eyapathetio with ilmericane* Ho *ayt
hiasolf thet hia bost friocds &ro im rie m * and ho has tried ta .introduce
into British eoonealec tho ei®Be &pjnroagfe, i.o* th© otudyiag of questions
froa e. feetufcl h&ois tlifct St*vLrt and I hove boon identified with in this
oo ntry* These factors are oo rt&l that they seen ceoieive la hlo ease* Oa
tho ether h&nd# hit continued doee contact with Europe and British economics
it one of tho big assets which ho ^ould bring to tho Institute* In tho first
plaoe ho Is now thoroughly f«aili&r with tbi fafttual *ork reooiitly done in
Ragland (suoh ao that 8o* beiag inaugurated on e larger booio by Hall asd
Beveridge) a* fo«# are# this is booauee ho has- boon, ono of tho main faotoro
in ot&rting Wvirk of W i« character* Wo need to kites' iatisntely what thoy ure
developing and wo n*od to keep in osat^ot with it# Clay ia no* in a position
to do tbit for iso m ao one olso is tad X think
should urge M m to remain
faailler with it* Secondly, thoro Iks in rooont years boon a gre&t floiror*
ing of theoretical oooaoe&ee in Sagl&ad* oooo of it of & w r y high quality*
Tho a&in trouble with* it froa tfce AMoritsa point of vies 1« thot it has boon
so flllod jrith eatrovorsy that fro^uontly- i^orioano haw* difficulty diatingulohiag bo ietn eontributiono .which aro b&eie and distortion® of emphasis
that reprosost little more than tha-hoot mad firo of a oosairowoaicl situation
Clay is tho ono loading British eoonoaist who has rsosaiaed fria&dly with all
o f‘tho groups* Ho has fcleo ©ontinuiilly triod t© sift out that which thoy h&d
to gift Ahioli roproooiited a real contribution from that ohieh was ophwaoril*
Wo waist him te bring this wiadoai to utf m *m% him to bo in a position to
oontinuo to briug it &a tisso goes on..
' 1. sa* b greet deal of Wolaaa aad Wiaproa and Stewart togothsr on the boat
coming hoist and fool th a t you should seriouely ooaeidor adding f o l ^ n ao oil
as Werron to tho group* This difforo radically froa af original suggesti<ms
boosutt at that tia@ I was trying to ,>ark out a group ^hieh would bo eblo to
foots on all tho ▼tried problo&s of tho ooo^osaio ecoiao fro® & rathor unified
point of iriowy mainly finane#* I t was frost th is point of viow th a t I wroto
tho roooanosadati^it vhioh I subeditOd to you* Pors anally, I s t i l l fotl that'
thooo reeomaaoiadfetions roprosont th© Moot offootivo typo of activity vhioh m
o old undortako• It is now oloar, ho&ovor, th a t I failsd to eom im * Etov&rt
Dr. Flexner
July 14,, 1938
Consequently I do not eat to isipede the eettiog up of an effective unit
in economical by eoatinuing to oi^ke recGiamendfcitions in terae of cm o&joct*
i f whieh has already beta more or lees paeeed by* The aaoet laptirteat re
quirement eftesunll- ie that the Xnetitut* poeseeg e. group that ©an work to*
gether effectively* If additional eppointmants c^re ia&de ia e©ono»Je e they
should carry out this group idee., other*iee it -auld be better to turn the
endowment to other ueee* £t present.X think the noet importexit thing we
e&n do to thie end ie to make Stewsrt feel «e happy «§ .possible, to asake
him feel'at hom m m & i m -m .poesibly e&n* . I was eoutinu&lly atruck on
the boat coaling hom with ho mteh sore ready ho mm ta eatdr into free aad
open ecoiiCMic diMUBelens «&tl^'£olaa* then with m yom else ^ith whm X hMre ;
obaenred hisa in recent ysare* It 22a.de iae realise ee never before how ssueh
the interplcy of his aaisid with wolasn* a Meant to him* If he ie to work ef
fectively '.sg&ta ia our field, he simply ssist beve this kind of interplay &nd
I think ;*• s ould do &1I: * • eaa to give it to- him* -
I m te rrib ly '^. ,.^pointed to, hear of Mise B ill's 'eagtigesent*
Soseeho*
as wm v^ere extending .invite tioae to the various eligible bachelors in Europe#.
I h&d in the background jof ay mind th&t we sight; arrange an iut ernationtl
marriage* kit mm I' understand that nothing ie elating out'but & cross between
. economics end ;engineering# That b&» b&ppened aeiverel tine* already end
dooen’ i excite m at ell* Miee iso repcrte, bcw ew * tbit w# aaist be pre*
pared for an iramd&tion of epplieant* for the position* It seems that
Afcslander is beginning to acquire a reputation*
FXmnm g iv e ay very beet to Ana® and t e l l hir thet m are wniilng
anxiously to see.you sll again*
Sincerely*
Dr*
£br^haa Flexner
THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
A LA N S O N B. H O U G H T O N
(PO U N DED B Y LO U IS BAMBERCER A N D M R S . FELIX FU LD , 1930)
TRUSTEES
Chairman
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
OFFICE
EDGAR S. BAMBERGER
HERBERT H . MAASS
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
Vice- Chairman
ALEXIS CARREL
ABRAHAM FLEXNER
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
WALTER W . STEWART
Vice-Chairman
J U L I U S FR1EDENWALD
CABLE ADDRESS: VANSTlTUTE PRINCETON N E W JERSEY
J O H N R. H A RDIN
A LA NSON B. H O U G H T O N
S A M U E L D. LEIDESDORF
S A M U E L D . LEIDESDORF
Treasurer
HERBERT H . MAASS
W I N F I E L D VT. RIEFLER
FLORENCE R. BABIN
WALTER W . STEWART
ESTHER S. BAILEY
July
Secretary
6,
1958
PERCY S. STRAUS
OSW ALD VEBtEN
L E W IS H . W E ED
LIFE TRUSTEES
Director o f the Institute
L O U IS BAMBERGER
M RS. FELIX FULD
Dear Win
I received your very in terestin g le tte r of Monday the £7th - month
unmentioned.
I am interested in Clay's toying with the idea of coaling to America.
I f he does come, i t seems to me th a t in a subject lik e economics he should come
with the idea th at America i s going to get not the six months' regular term but
th a t he is going to domesticate himself in America.
I have th is same feeling in
regard to Mitrany, namely, th a t in subjects lik e p o litic a l science and economics
you have got to belong to the country in which you. are a professor, though on the
other hand I have an equally strong feeling th at in neither of these subjects nor
any other subjects ought a man cut himself away from his foreign connections.
Mitrany, in my judgment - and I say th is in confidence to you - has made a great
mistake by spending six months in America and six months in England.
He w ill
never learn p o litic a l theory or practice in America as long as he continues to
do th is .
The same would hold of Clay,
Wh©?® he takes a vacation of two
or three months is immaterial, but home and work should, I believe, be America.
He would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to u s, but he would have, I think, to
identify himself with the country in order to realize his f u ll p o te n tia litie s.
wonder how you feel about th is .
I
W.W.R.
•
July 6, 1938
2
• I had a busy week in Princeton a fte r returning to America and
then ran into a Fourth of July deadlock here in New York.
Now I have finished
ay appointments and am ready to leave fo r Canada by tomorrow night.
Anne
preceded me by a day in order to have everything in gocd order fo r "her lord and
master" Just as Dorothy has done fo r you.
Why don't these women strik e?
Give our love and best rishes to Dorothy and the children and
Miss Wise, i f she is s t i l l a t the Cape.
I suppose she w ill have to ld you
of the catastrophe th a t has overwhelmed Miss Guinn's successor.
haunted.
I am trying to get Mrs. Bailey and Miss Eichelser to occupy i t
temporarily in order to take the curse o ff.
With a l l good wishes,
Ever affectionately,
Mr. W. W. R iefler
Orleans
Massachusetts
AFsESB
That room is
THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
A LA N S ON B. H O U G H T O N
Chairman
HERBERT H . MAASS
Vice-Chairman
WALTER W .
STEWART
Vice-Chairman
(FOUNDED B Y L O U IS BAMBERGER A N D M S S . FELIX FU LD , 1930)
OFFICE
20 N A S S A U S T R E E T
CABLE ADDRESS: VANS1ITUTE PRINCETON N E W JERSEY
S A M U E L D. IEIDESDORF
HERBERT H . MAASS
W I N F I E L D W . RIEFLER
SKA A. S C H U R
FLORENCE R. SABIN
Assistant Treasurer
WALTER W . STEWART
PERCY 8. 8TBAUS
ESTHER S. BAILEY
Director o f the Institute
J U L I U S FRIEDENW ALD
J O H N R. H A R D IN
ALAN SON B. H O U G H T O N
Treasurer
ABR AH A M FLEXNER
EDGAR S. BAMBERGER
ALEXIS CARREL
ABRAHAM FLEXNER
PRINCETO N, N E W JERSEY
S A M U E L D. LEIDESDORF
Secretary
TRUSTEES
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
OSW ALD VEBLEN
Magnetawan, v ia Burks Falls
Ontario, Canada
August 24, 1938
L E W IS H . W E ED
LIFE TRUSTEES
LO U IS BAMBERGER
M RS. FELIX FULD
Dear Wini
I am dropping you a line to le t you know th a t Stewart and Warren came
up Monday afternoon to spend Tuesday and Wednesday a t the camp.
Stewart seems
to me happier and younger than I have ever known him to be.
Warren's mind is moving slowly, but our long ta lk s have convinced me
th a t his in te lle c t is a f ir s t- r a te instrument.
I have not pressed him or urged
him but have trie d to express the kind of thing the In stitu te is and the so rt of
opportunities i t o ffe rs. Our conversations have been confined en tirely to d is
cussion of the In stitu te and the small but increased nucleus in the fie ld of
economics and discussion of p o s sib ilitie s of coBperation with the h isto rian s.
You may be sure th a t we have reached no decisions and discussed nothing beyond
what I have described above.
All other questions w ill wait t i l l you and
Stewart and I can ta lk them over together.
I told Stewart that I meant to 7/rite
you, and he was glad to have me do i t .
He asked me to add that he would be glad
to make a v i s i t tcfthe Cape, but the summer is passing rapidly, and he is doubtful
whether he can make i t .
We have had a perfect summer in point of weather and in every other
respect except th at fo r the f i r s t time we have had two accidents.
Anne stumbled
and broke a finger in two places, necessitating a journey to Toronto fo r Xray and
a cast which she is s t i l l wearing. When Mrs. Bailey came to the camp on the 13th,
i t took her ju s t about th irty -s ix hours to f a l l down three steps and break her
leg in two places ju st above the ankle.
Fortunately since Anne's accident we
had learned th at there was a thoroughly modern hospital at Parry Sound - forty
miles from the camp, and she was th at same evening brought here with Eleanor and
the doctor.
I t is marvelous to find an in stitu tio n of th is kind in th is remote
corner.
She has been absolutely comfortable since the bones were se t, and
repeated Xrays show th a t they are healing in proper position.
Within another
week we hope to be able to bring her back to the camp, where she w ill s t i l l ,
however, wear a lig h t cast and hobble around on crutches.
Stewart and Warren drove with me th is afternoon to see her, and Mrs.
Bailey joins us a l l in warmest greetings to you and Dorothy and the boys.
Ever affectionately,
Winfield W. Riefler.Esq.
Orleans, Massachusetts
AFjSSB
CT.J-.
'5 " I
ABRA HAM FL E X N E R
M A G N E T A W A N , V IA B U R K S F A L L S
O N T A R IO , C A N A D A
August 7 , 1939
' Dear Win:
I have two le tte r s from you, one w ritten on the steamer and one
from Cape Cod, dated August 1, enclosing your check fo r #750.00. Thank
you very much for the la tte r , though i t w ill do me no good, inasmuch as
1 shall have to send i t to the Princeton Bank, which w ill eat i t up.
I am sorry th at you w ill have had so soon to go back to
New York. I do wish th at you could get a continuous holiday. I t seems
to me th at Dorothy’s authority is very weak. I f I proposed so soon a fte r
returning from Europe to go to New Xork Anne would be down on me lik e a
thousand brickJ
What you have heard of the fis h is tru e, and I have a photograph
to prove i t . The fish weighed fourteen pounds, but i t was not pulled out
the water by the undersigned. Wes caught i t tro llin g one night and made
us a present of i t . We have also got some smaller fry since th is notable
event.
I had supposed th at you were busy on the boat, and I suppose
th at the same w ill continue to be true far years to come. Fortunately,
you are a good swimmer, so th a t 1he worst th a t can happen to you - and i t
probably w ill - is th at you w ill overturn the f i r s t time you venture out.
We have had an extremely quiet summer in most respects. Mrs.
Bailey spent July here and a few days a fte r she l e f t Miss Eichelser came
in looking very w ell, though in her camp clothes she is s t i l l something
of a bean pole.
Meanwhile, I have spent a few days with Mr. Bamberger and
Mrs. Fuld. We discussed the Princeton problem and Mr. Bamberger was
disgusted when he heard from me fo r the f i r s t time th a t Veblen had called
a dinner, of which I had no notice and to which I had not been asked.
"That was very wrong,n he said. I do not look forward to the coming year
with the degree of pleasure with which I have always contemplated i t .
F!rom time to time I have heard rumors' of trouble among both the Trustees
and the facu lty . I have no appetite for a situ atio n of th is kind follow
ing the happy years which we have spent together there. Just what I shall
do or how I am not- yet c le a r, but I shall make up my mind, probably th is
week, and I sh all l e t you know.
I enclose & la tte r which came from Jacobson. I am very much
pleased with the high opinion which he formed of our economics group.
Anne is very well and she and Miss Eichelser join me in a l l good
, wishes for you and Dorothy and the boys.
Professor Winfield W. R iefler
Orleans, Cape Cod
http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Massachusetts
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ever sincerely,
THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
(PO UNDED B Y LO U IS BAMBERGER A N D M R S . FELIX FULD,
Chairman
ALAN SON
B.
1930)
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
EDGAR S. BAMBERGER
Vice-Chairmen
HERBERT
H.
WALTER W .
TRUSTEES
F R A N K AYDELOTTE
HOUGHTON
ALEXIS
M AASS
Director',
STEWART
CARREL
A B R A H A M F LE X N E R
abraham fle x n e r
J U L IU S
JOHN
Treasurer
FRIEDENWALD
R. H A R D IN
ALA N S ON
S A M U E L D. LEIDESDORF
B.
HOUGHTON
S A M U E L D. LEIDESDORF
Assistant Treasurer
IRA A.
October 11, 1939
SCHUR
HERBERT H .
WALTER W .
Secretary
M AASS
W IN F IE L D W . RIEFLER
S TEW AR I
PERCY S. STRAUS
E STHE R S. BAILEY
O SW A LD
VEBLEN
L E W IS H . W EED
Assistant Secretaries
MA RIE C. EICHELSER
LIFE TRUSTEES
L E A H HARRIS
LOUIS
BAMBERGER
M R S . FELIX FULD
Dear Win:
I want to thank you very deeply and genuinely for the
b rie f but touching words you spoke on Monday. I was anxious th at
no one but my re a l friends should p articip ate on th a t occasion, and
through Mr. Houghton's sense of the fitn ess of things I had my way.
You are going to lik e Aydelotte, and I am only fearfu l
th a t he w ill displace me in your affections.
Don't l e t him do i t ,
for I count on you and Dorothy and your children.
In some way when
you come to New York you must see to i t th a t Anne and I know in advance
so th a t as long as we liv e we sh all not lose touch with one another.
You have, a l l of you, places in my heart th a t sh all not be occupied
by anyone else.
So far as your boys are concerned, I hope you understand
th a t I am w illing to serve them and you and Dorothy in any capacity
you wish, though I know f u ll well th a t with care you are going to have
a long career of usefulness and a c tiv ity ahead of you, during which,
however, i f I can be of any service to them or you, you have only to
say the word.
Ever affectionately,
TEhe TftniversitE of (Tbicago
ttbe Xaw School
C h ic a g o
November 4, 1939
P ro f e s s o r Y /in fie ld R i e f l e r
P rin c e to n U n iv e r s ity
P r in c e to n , New J e rs e y
Dear YiTin:
The e x c e ll e n t a r t i c l e by y o u r c o lle a g u e
i n th e c u r r e n t New R ep u b lic rem inded me a g a in o f
y o u r i n t e r e s t i n r e l a t e d m a tte r s . I t o cc u rs to
me you may have some i n t e r e s t i n th e e n c lo se d t a l k ,
w hich I gave h e re l a s t week u n d er th e a u s p ic e s o f
a group w hich h a 3 been o p p o sin g r e p e a l o f th e em
b a rg o . Don’t b o th e r to acknow ledge o r r e t u r n i t .
I am s t i l l h o p in g t h a t sometime when I
g e t E a s t I s h a l l f i n d m y se lf n e a r you w ith tim e f o r
some t a l k .
W ith b e s t w is h e s ,
----
MS:BPL
Malcolm Sharp
Uhe {University of Chicago
ttbe Xaw School
C h ic a g o
November 4, 1939
P ro f e s s o r W in fie ld R i e f l e r
P rin c e to n U n iv e r s ity
P r in c e to n , New J e rs e y
D ear Win:
The e x c e ll e n t a r t i c l e by y o u r c o lle a g u e
i n th e c u r r e n t New R e p u b lic rem inded me a g a in o f
y o u r I n t e r e s t I n r e l a t e d m a tte r s . I t o c c u rs to
me you may have some i n t e r e s t i n th e e n c lo se d t a l k ,
w hich I gave h e re l a s t week u n d er th e a u s p ic e s o f
a group w hich h as been o p p o sin g r e p e a l o f th e em
b a rg o . Don’t b o th e r to acknow ledge o r r e t u r n I t .
I am s t i l l h o p in g t h a t sometime when I
g e t E a s t I s h a l l f i n d m y se lf n e a r you w ith tim e f o r
some t a l k .
W ith b e s t w is h e s ,
MS jBPL
The Psychology of Peace
1
In tha present situation everyone hare is concerned primarily
with the security and peace of the Halted States.
We are most of
us Indeed oonvlnced that by keeping this oountry secure and strong,
we shall best serve the Interests of the world.
In determining how the interests of the United States can best
be served, we are met with two results of the European situation.
The first is the stimulation of our pride and our pugnacity.
seoond is fear*
The
If we will look coolly at the oooasions for pug
nacity and fear, we shall prepare to consider how we can best ad
vance American purposes.
Por our pugnaoity, we may reflect on the thousands of years
during which Asiatic and European peoples have fought each other.
To concentrate this reflection, I can think of nothing better
than to reread Thucydides1 History of the Peloponnesian War. That
war is sometimes thought of as a conflict between the ideologies
of democratic Athens and aristocratic Sparta.
Thucydides himself
sometimes speaks of it this wayf but most of his observations and
his entire account show something quite different.
The expanding
trade of Athens» which contributed to the city's magnificent ar
tistic life, had collided with the trade of its near neighbors,
Megara, Aegina, Sicyon, and Corinth.
The extraordinary genius of
Thucydides1 observations is what chiefly distinguishes the result
ing small and petty conflict from countless other such conflicts
in the history of the world.
-2 -
Though aome have doubted it, Thuoydidea seems fully n u e of
tho influence of trado and trade rivalries.
part of the difficulty to them.
But he attriTrutea only
They may aupply the occaalon and
materials for fighting} but it ia a vicious circle of animal fear
and animal pride whioh leada the oltlea to deatroy each other.
"Pear, pride and interest* appear again and again in the speeches
whioh embody Thueydidee, fiercely ironical refleotlona on the psy
chology of war.
The flrat plaoea are given to fear and pride.
Greece ia one of the ao-called Balkan states.
Twenty-five
hundred years have made little difference in Balkan affairs. Balkan
and near Balkan conflicts still affeot Europe aa a whole, and ao
the world.
Balkan mentality appears, moreover, to be European men
tality} and lt la against this mentality that we ourselves must be
on guard.
For lt may ba that what appears to ua aa moral indignation ia
in part compounded of pride} and that pride, aa George Bernard Shaw
haa recently suggested, is another name for animal pugnacity.
To
teat our moral indignation, many of ua continually recall the War
of 1914.
Much of the conflict leading up to that war centered in
the Balkans, particularly the straits at Istanbul.
a muddled and unsyatematic conflict.
It was perhaps
We cannot too often remind
ouraelvea that the German ambaasador buret into teara aa he handed
the declaration of war to the Czar's minister.
He had guessed wrong
in advising his government that Russia would not back Serbia In her
quarrel with the Austrian Empire.
The confllot produced what ia
atlll the most dlaastrous war in history*
It was, we remember, a war to make the world safe for democracy,
and
a war to
end war.
At Its close, the principal states of Europe
-3 -
proceeded, under the influence of Interest, fear and pride, to
conduot their affairs in a classically Balkan manner.
So far from
making the world safe for democracy, they sav to it that the world
was quite unsafe for German social democracy.
So far from making
a rational and systematic effort to end war, they proceeded in a
manner which, as their classical education should have told them,
was best calculated to produce war.
By imposing on the prostrate German nation a reparations bill
of some $30,000,000,000 they contributed first to the devastating
German inflation, and then to the eoonomio collapse of the world.
By humiliating a great people, trying at once to carry the burdens
caused by the war and to establish a new form of government, they
stimulated the passions which have always led to war*
Poverty, in
security, fear and pride, prepared the way for the aggressive Na
tional Socialism of today.
We may prefer the British and French ways of life to the German;
but if we are going to be self-righteous about other nations, we
must condemn the British and French for failing to apply the obvious
teaching of history, at the same time that we condemn the Germans
for following the course which comparable nations have taken through
out history.
If we are to feel moral Indignation and pride in our
own position, we should perhaps distribute it well*
We must be anti-
British if we are also today anti-German.
2
So much as a suggestion for dealing with moral indignation,
pride and pugnacity.
How about "interest”, and particularly the
kind of interest which occasions "fear*?
If we examine ourselves,
we shall hardly want to fight for merely business interests.
We
may fear (hwman and Japanese competition) but we shall hardly favor
dealing with it by a method which will run up such costs as appear
in J. if. Clark*8 study, The Costs of the World War to the American
People.
Among other costs# Mr. Clark, by careful estimates, names
as of 1931# 170,000 young Americans dead.
It is not so much commercial interests which concern us, as
Interests which# when apparently threatened# produce an ©yen deeper
fear*
If Britain and France are defeated# are we not in danger of
German ships and German planes f
If we suppose that Canada would
not follow England into captivity, and remember th&t prevailing
winds blow from the West across the North Atlantic# we may be less
concerned about the danger of an attack on Boston# Hew York or
Washington.
But how about an attack based on present British or French
possessions in Latin Americaj or based on Brasil# near the African
Coast, whence trade winds blow for part of the year in a direction
favorable to attackt
We may take over British and French posses
sions to the South of us as payment for war debts or simply for their
own protection and our security*
But Brasil remains.
And there is always the chance that in
the endless international chess game# Germany and Japan will again
find their interests coinciding# and attack us from both directions.
In the various possible permutations and combinations of
frightening circumstances# we may at first bo cool.
We may say,
as George Bernard Shaw recently said of people who talk this way,
"I can only say that they are frightened out of their wits. "
If
we remember history, we shall doubt whether any nation is likely
to be strong enough to adventure all over the world on its own*
We shall observe today that British, French and German, fear of
Russia is apparently a potent force for pea.ee | and that on the other
hand, Russian fear of a possible European combination may contrib
ute to the oaution with whioh Stalin moves.
We may think that the
Japanese at times wonder where and against whom they may next need
support.
In spite of these reassuring reflections* there may remain a
lively fear of the remote but distasteful possibility of military
attack*
Aa many* from Thucydides to Bertrand Bussell* have con
sidered fear among the most potent of the forces leading nations
to fight* we may well examine this fear of military attack more
carefully*
For this purpose* many have found Major George Fielding Eliot *s
fhe Ramparts We Watch* a helpful study of our military and partic
ularly our naval position*
It is a book which* just now in its
fifth printing, gives the layman an Introduction to the technical
problems of geography and engineering which must be mastered by the
experts who* in these matters* must furnish some of the materials
for final decision to statesmen*
For the cltisen, Major Eliot1s
book appears to be the best guide available*
There is no opportunity in this place to consider his data.
Two conclusions* however* should be considered*
First* Major Eliot
concludes that without first eliminating our fleet* no foreign
country could now well send an expedition against a South American
state*
Second, he concludes that neither Americans nor Japanese in
their senses* strategically speaking* would start a war between these
two countries* Involving aggressive operations across the Pacific*
-6-
Major Eliot is speaking of separate attacks* say toy Germany
or Japanf
^i* observations remind us of our strong defensive
position.
They should serve to reeall that under any circumstances
it will take a considerable period to put a german high commissioner
in charge in Washington*
3
We may thus discount our Impulsive pugnacity and fear.
It is
in its relation to these blind impulses here* that we are particu
larly concerned with the situation in Europe.
If one has the view which has been suggested in outline* what
is he to say about our immediate course of aotiont
I have been
opposed to relaxing in any way, and in favor of all practicable pro
posals to strengthen* legislative limits on trade with belligerents*
including Japan.
It appears now, however# that along with measures
to strengthen these limits there will be one more or less signif
icant relaxation.
It seeas likely that the administration will be
able to modify the so-called arms embargo* at least to the extent
of permitting the shipment of multiple purpose airplanes to bellig
erents who are able to pay cash and carry them away.
In this situation* we who wished to see the efforts to remove
the arms embargo defeated as a means of strengthening America's
determination to stay out of this war* must take stock of our posi
tion*
The debate* which threatened to be more dangerous than the
proposed legislation itself* has gone better than one might have
expected*
There has been a minimum of war-like talk; and such a
statement as that made the other evening over the air by Colonel
Knox is an encouraging sign of our strong inclination to scrutinise
sceptically all proposals to got us to join this fight.
It may be#
indeed# that tha general condemnation of the aetual firat atep taken
by Hitler in Poland* will somewhat work itself out in the course of
changing legislation now commonly regarded aa too favorable too Ger
many.
Our mental atate in relation to Europe may th&a be fairly
healthy| and we must try to keep it so.
It appears, again# that our technical position may be somewhat
improved by modifying the embargo.
are really wanted.
It is apparently airplanes that
If airplanes strengthen the British position#
it may— along with eome bad effects— >have two good effects.
In the firat place# if the British and French win or are not
too badly defeated# the need for armament a in North and South Amer
ica will probably be leas than it otherwiae well may be.
That will
save us expense and th* bad influences which may emanate from a big
military
establishment.
This eeems to me the most sensible justi
fication for the proposed change in legislation; and I think that
the change if made should be rested on that ground.
A second good effect may# however# just possibly be more im
portant.
Our economic system and the future of our children are
already threatened by even the present war.
We muat all hope# in
our own interests# that its effects will be no worse.
At the moment# it seems conceivable that the European nations#
disgusted with themselves and afraid of each other# may simply stay
encamped# or even fight# during a long winter of negotiationa. There
will be few detached observers who will not# in the present state
of affairs# wish the British and French# who have little to gain by
fighting# to be in a strong position to negotiate.
airplanes
If# by making
available# we strengthen their hands# we may just con-
eelvably contribute at last to the rational treatment of world
problems.
What could auoh a rational treatment bet
Xn the negotiations
just preceding the outbreak of the war, and in neutral hints and
belligerent statements more recently* the outlines of a possible
treatment may be seen.
There is the transition to a peace economy,
talked of in England this summer* and connected with the name of
President Roosevelt in late August.
There is ths end of the Ver
sailles system* long advocated by large sections of American opinion*
and meaning now particularly the return of German prestige involved
in the restoration of colonies.
The end of the Versailles system*
all agree* must be accompanied by "guarantees*.
These may have a
variety of forms determined only by the ingenuity of statesmen*
who like lawyers deal in mortgage* pledge* and suretyship.
One suggestion that seems to have appeared on the eigea of re
cent conferences between small neutrals may be a due.
It may be
that in return for the end of Versailles* Germany would cooperate
in the establishment of the long looked for Danubian federation,
under international supervision.
With concessions to Hungary and
Bulgaria by Rumania and perhaps Greece* an enlarged and strengthened
Balkan League seems possible.
To this may be added a properly di
minished* but still integral Poland* Bohemia and Slovakia.
England,
France* Italy* Germany, the Soviet Itaion and Turkey have long had
interests in this unstable area) and many attempts to stabilise
it have been made,
under the pressure of crisis* it may be that
the attempt could now succeed;
and the resulting organisation af
ford a start for the development of new international cooperation.
«lQ«i
She development of th* organisation might# for example, be made
tha firat business of a reinvigorated League.
With these steps
would naturally go thoroughly supervised armament oontrol.
This would be "?eaoe without victory.*
The familiar proposals,
thus combined, may now seem visionary} but the alternatives are not,
from any point of view, satisfactory.
iC
Box 6 0 8 ,
S a r a s o ta , F lo rid ?.,
Jan u ary 2 7 , "'959.
Mr rfin fie ld . W. R i e f l e r
B a ttle Road,
P rin o e to n N .J .
Dear Mr R ie f le r :
Thank yoi f o r y o u r l e t t e r , ssi happy to t e l l
you th e in fo rm a tio n I was lo o k in g f o r i s o f th e f i n e s t ,
P le a se have th e h ig h e s t o p in io n o f th e R o b e rts.
The house I am building; f o r Mr R o b erts i s a
s o r t o f ra m b e lin g a f f a i r , f a c in g the G ulf on one of th e
keys ab o u t T h irty mixes South o f S a r a s o ta , i t hfis T er y
t r p p i c a l su ro u n d in g s and I am su re th ey wixx spend
pxeasan.t days th e r e .
P le a se rem ber me to Mrs R i e f l e r , I am,
January 2ht 1939
Vr. S. W. Marquette
p. 0. Box 60S
Sarasota, Florida
Dear Mr. Marquette:
Thank you for your letter of January 21st, I was glad
to learn that you have gotten together with ^r. Roberts and
are planning to build his bouse.
I do not know exactly nhat to Bay with respect to your
confidential Inquiry. I have known the Roberts here for
four years and have the highest opinion of then. So far as
I know, they are vexy well regarded throughout Princeton and
are considered at least moderately well off. When 1 try to
rack ay memory, however, for any specific information oa his
financial standing, I have to admit that I have none.
In view of your position, you must protect yourself
against over-extension, and I am sure that Mr. Roberts is
the type of person to whom you could write quite frankly
that you need the definiteness of a contract before .you
can afford to involve yourself in financial commitments
beyond your personal capacity.
**rs. Riefler joins me in sending you our best greet
ings. We both hope that you will be most successful in
Sarasota.
Sincerely,
Winfield W. Riefler
P.O.Box
608,
S a r a s o ta , F la ,
Jan, 21
1939*
Dear Mr, R e if le r ;
Mr R o b erts was h e re in F lo r id a th e f i r s t
o f th e Y ear w ith Mr S eek, and f i n a l y d ec id ed on th e k in d
o f house Mr R o b e rts w ants to b u i l d . He d e c id e d to l e t me
b u ix d i t on a p e rc e n ta g e b a s e s r a t h e r th a n a s t r a i g h t
c o n t r a c t . D uring th e s h o r t s ta y we went o ver th e many th in g s
r e l a t i n g th e w ork, one o f them which was Mr Beck would
draw up a form o f c o n tr a c t and s e n n it to me to s ig n .
In th e meam tim e I have gone ehead and
c o n tra c te d f o r a l l m a t e r i a l s , and have th e fo u n d a tio n s
read y f o r th e s t r u c t u r e , b u t to <3ate have n o t re e ie v e d
th e c o n t r a c t ,
C o n f id e n tia ly can you t e l l me a n y th in g
ab o u t Mr R o b erts f i n a n c i a l a b i l i t y , I do n o t want to
em b arrass Mr R o b e rts , and can n o t e f f o r d to g e t in to
d iffic u ltie s
s e lf.
I w ij .1 a p p r e c ia te g r e a t l y y o u r o p in io n
on t h i s m a tte r*
February 6 , 1939
Soar Honryi
Welaome to tho Western World!
We aro all looking
forward to seeing you with the greatest of anticipations.
I can’ t fi.Te you tho full H a t of the people hop* who
send their love, but
th e y
include Stewart, Warren, Dorothy,
the H om ers and Innumerable Princeton people who have
heard of your coming.
Sincerely,
Winfield I . Riefler
Professor Henxy Clay
A braham F lexner
ISO EA ST 72 N D STR EET
N E W YORK CITY
February 18, 1940
Dear Win:
The other day Professor Panofsky, as representative
of the In stitu te Faculty, brought me a beautiful volume which
had once belonged to President Gilman and which the Johns Hop
kins Trustees had given our group th at i t might belong to me "The f i r s t Director from the f i r s t Faculty".
None of you
can fathom the depths to which I am s tirre d by th is touching
and beautiful act.
To President Gilman I owe more than
anyone but nyself can ever knowj to you and your colleagues,
as well as to the Founders of the In s titu te , I owe the oppor
tunity to see a dream realized.
And you are one of those
whcjhave helped to achieve th is miracle.
Need I , can I , saymore? You must imagine for yourself the deep pleasure
which th is remembrance gives me and the gratitude I feel to
those who have taken my dream, now a r e a lity , into th eir
keeping.
Ever sincerely,
Professor Winfield W. R iefler
B attle Court Road
Princeton, New Jersey
AF:ESB
ABRAHAM FLEXNER
1 5 0 EAST 7 2 n d STREET
N EW YORK CITY
September 18, 1944
Dear Win:
I have j u s t h e a rd from M rs. B a ile y t h a t you have
r e tu r n e d home and have s t a r t e d w ith D orothy to spend as a long
a p e rio d as p o s s ib le a t Cape Cod.
I d o n ’t suppose t h a t D orothy
has t o l d you an y th in g ab o u t h e r lo v e a f f a i r s in your p ro lo n g ed
ab sen ce any more th a n you a r e t e l l i n g h e r ab o u t your m isa d v e n tu re s
i n London.
W ell, l e t an ir o n c u r t a i n drop over e v e ry th in g t h a t
happened p re c e d in g th e f a l l o f P a r i s , e t c .
I am d e lig h te d t h a t you a r e once more in p o s it io n
to resum e yo u r norm al a c t i v i t i e s .
I w ant v e ry much to see you.
C a n 't you and D orothy s to p i n New York on your way to P rin c e to n
and have d in n e r o r lu n c h w ith u s ?
J u s t a p o s tc a rd a d d re s se d
t o us t o 150 E ast 72nd S t r e e t t e l l i n g us when you can come i s a l l
th e r e p ly t h a t t h i s c a l l s f o r .
As a m a tte r o f f a c t , we a r e a l l j u s t b e g in n in g to
r e a l i z e what i t means to have alm o st d e f e a te d th e Germans.
From now on i t w i l l , I th in k , be e a s y -g o in g .
Anne and I had a superb v a c a tio n i n Canada - w ith
no h e a t and v e ry l i t t l e r a i n .
The la k e was n ev e r l o v e l i e r
o r more q u i e t , and even u n d er norm al c irc u m sta n c e s i t i s s t i l l
a lo v e ly and lo n e ly p la c e .
W ith
a f f e c t i o n a t e g r e e tin g s to you a l l from us b o th ,
Ever s in c e r e ly p u r f r i e n d ,
Mr. W in fie ld W. R i e f l e r
O rle a n s , Cape Cod
M a ssa c h u se tts
AFsESB
'
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@FedFRASER