4 3 0 D O C U M E N T 1 4 9 S E P T E M B E R 1 9 2 0
einmal so weit, dass ich zu einer sachlichen Entgegnung fähig wäre. Ich kann nur
meine Überzeugung ausdrücken, dass Guillaumes Ausführungen überhaupt kein
klarer Gedankengang zugrunde liegt.
—————
Lieber Grossmann! Ersuche bitte die „Archives“ Guillaume eine Korrektur zu
senden.[14]
Die Aeusserung ist hart, aber ich finde keinen anderen Weg; der Blöd-
sinn ist zu dick
ALSX. [11 499].
[1]On the alignment of political persuasion and judgment in the anti-relativity campaign, see
Doc. 112, note 3.
[2]See Doc. 142, to which this letter is a reply.
[3]Guillaume had published a number of articles since 1917 on relativity theory, developing his
idea of a “universal time.”
[4]Einstein had written five letters to Guillaume over the preceding two months, most recently on
4 September (Doc. 132), in an effort to understand Guillaume’s theory, in addition to earlier corre-
spondence on the same topic in February 1920 (Einstein to Edouard Guillaume, 9 February 1920
[Vol. 9, Doc. 305]) and in 1917 (Einstein to Edouard Guillaume, 24 September, 9 October, and 24
October 1917 [Vol. 8, Docs. 383, 387, and 394]).
[5]In his letter (see Doc. 142), Grossmann had urged Einstein to make a publishable comment on
Guillaume’s work, fearful that Guillaume was beginning to attract followers.
[6]There had been repeated attempts to persuade Einstein to return to Zurich (see, e.g., Edgar
Meyer to Einstein, 14 December 1919 [Vol. 9, Doc. 214]).
[7]On Einstein’s financial support for his family in Zurich, see Doc. 81.
[8]For Einstein’s earlier plans to move his Zurich family to Germany and their postponement, see
Vol. 9, Doc. 148a, in the present volume and Einstein to Mileva Einstein-Maric; , 5 December 1919
(Vol. 9, Doc. 190).
[9]On the possibility that Einstein might leave Germany, see Doc. 131, note 5. For Max Planck’s
reaction to these rumors, see Doc. 133, and for Fritz Haber’s response, see Doc. 119.
[10]Anna Grossmann-Keller, who had suffered for months from an almost fatal sepsis (see
Doc. 142).
[11]Marcel Grossmann Jr. and Hans Albert were classmates (see Doc. 142, note 4). Their fathers
had been classmates at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in the years 1896–1900.
[12]For Einstein’s vacation plans with his sons in Benzingen, see Doc. 81.
[13]The journal Archives des sciences physiques et naturelles of Geneva, in which most of
Guillaume’s publications appeared.
[14]In the event Grossmann published his own comment on Guillaume in the Archives (Grossmann
1920) without Einstein’s remarks.
149. To Elsa Einstein
Kiel, Dienstag. [14 September
1920][1]
Liebe Else!
Bin nach glücklicher, bequemer Reise hier eingetroffen, von Herrn Anschütz am
Perron
erwartet.[2]
So schön hab ich es selten gehabt—ich sage es nicht, um die
Qualen Deiner Reise zu vergrössern, sondern nur Dich in der Phantasie mitgenies-