2 0 8 D O C U M E N T S 1 6 5 , 1 6 6 J U L Y 1 9 2 1
TLS. [44 801]. Written on letterhead “Zentralkomitee der Deutschen Vereine vom Roten Kreuz.
Amerikanisches Hilfswerk,” and addressed “Herrn Professor Dr. Albert Einstein, Berlin, W 30
Haberlandstr. 5.”
[1]For the invitation to this event, see Doc. 156.
[2]The meeting was attended by President Ebert and other members of the Reich and the Prussian
cabinets. The Reichstag, the administrators of Berlin, the Berlin universities, and of the commercial
and industrial circles were also represented. After the meeting, several newspapers reproduced iden-
tical summaries of Einstein’s remarks pertaining to Einstein’s statement that leading American and
English scientists and dignitaries had expressed a hope for improved relations with German scholars
(see, e.g., 30 June 1921 in Calendar, National-Zeitung Berlin, 1 July 1921, Grundmann 1998, p. 194,
and Wazeck 2005a).
165. To Félix Michaud
[Berlin,] 1. Juli 21
Hochg. H. K.!
Freundl. Dank für Ihren Brief u. f. Ihr
Büchlein.[1]
Leider kann ich in dem En-
tropie-Verlust der Sterne durch Ausstrahlung keineswegs eine Lösung des Clausi-
usschen Dilemmas
erblicken.[2]
D. Entropie wächst eben f. das ganze System,
wenn man die der emittierten Strahlung hinzunimmt. Eine Lösung d. Schwierig-
keit wäre nur durch fundamentale Aenderungen am System der Naturgesetze zu er-
hoffen. Ich erwähne z. B. die allerdings ganz aus d. Luft gegriffene Hypothese, daß
Strahlung im leeren Raum verschwindet u. Atome aus d. Raum sich neu bilden.
Die durch Erfahrung begründeten Gesetze haben d. Wärmetod zur unentrinnbaren
Konsequenz.
Mit ausgez. Hoch.
Dft in Ilse Einstein’s hand. [17 192]. Written on the verso of Doc. 126.
[1]Michaud 1922.
[2]The application of Clausius’s law of increasing entropy to cosmology led to the much debated
consequence that the closed system of the universe must ultimately undergo a heat death.
166. From Felix Frankfurter
Cambridge, Mass., July 1/21
My dear Colleague
I am deeply grateful to you for your very generous
letters.[1]
They only made me
the more sad that circumstances were so cruel against us, in preventing us from
having a real talk aus den Herzen, during your visit. What is past is past. But I am
abidingly grateful for the complete candor and heartiness of your letters. It would
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