130 DOC. 121
SEPTEMBER
1915
121. To
Heinrich
Zangger
[Kreuzlingen,] Tuesday.
[21
September
1915][1]
Dear friend
Zangger,
This
printed
leaflet
is
very
sweet
and
there
is
some
truth
to
it. But
why
is
Delcassé made
minister?[2]
Why
is
revenge
taught
in schoolbooks?
Why
are
parts
of
Turkey
consumed while
hissing vigorously
at
the
Algeciras
Treaty?[3]
Why
did
Jaurès
have to be murdered?-[4]
And
yet!
How
nice France looks when
I
think
of
the
others!
Such
a
leaflet,
even
though
its content
is not
quite accurate, proves
nevertheless
that
people
have
a sense
for decent and noble
ways
of
thinking.
It
is
this
that
I
miss
so
sorely
on
the other
side. A
craving
to dominate
and
a
thirst
for
power
have
poisoned
the
minds
of the
upper
class
everywhere;
but in
France at least
there
was a
lack
of
uniformity
and
consistency
in
the
evil.
Moreover,
I
am
convinced
that the
gospel
that brute
armed force
is
the
basis
of
all existence finds its main
support
in
Germany.
Even
the
disgraceful regiment
in Russia finds
powerful
support
in
the German
ruling
class.
I
am
very pleased
that in Switzerland
awareness
of the seat of the real
danger
is
making headway,
and
I
hope confidently
that this
simple recognition
will
prevail
despite
the
press.
The
press!
The article
in
Volksrecht
on
the
submission
by
intellectuals
regarding
the
annexation
question[5]
has been
silently ignored by
the
bourgeois
press.
Is
it
fear? Have scholars
of
distinction lent
their
names
elsewhere
to
such
a
thing?
I
am
sorry
to
bother
you
with
my passport.[6]
But
I
could
hardly
come
back,
as
the duties
of
the
various farewells
I
had
escaped
so
lightly
seemed
so
menacing
to
me.
I
quite
like
being
stuck
here
for
a
few
days
in
rural
tranquillity; I
would
be inclined
to
wish
the
same
to
you.
Many
thanks and cordial
greetings,
yours,
Einstein.
Just
now
your
letter
and
the
passport
arrived. Heartfelt
thanks
once again.
I
really
liked
the
Pole.[7] He
has
potential.
Today
out
of
boredom
I
attended the
local teachers’ seminar to
see
what
they
are
up
to,
and there
I
meet
a
teacher who
had
formerly
attended
my
lectures.[8]
Isn’t
that
amusing?
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