2 4 D O C U M E N T 2 9 J A N U A R Y 1 9 2 1
own in a discussion with you, I am permitted to point out that the majority of people
look at this thing from where I myself see it and that among those standing there,
there are very, very many whose views and fears coincide with my own. That this
book has already had a very unfavorable effect on many quarters is unfortunately
an undeniable fact, and if I consider the exceedingly unsavory impression that just
a glimpse through the book made on me personally, I am not for a single moment
in doubt about how much mud this book has channeled onto your opponents’
mill.[7]
There will surely be a great outcry about this book; and if you, who sees
things sub specie aeterni regard this, too, as insignificant, it is not by any means for
the present development of things; and sordid opponents like
Weyland[8]
and his
cohorts will not refrain from stirring their pot over this little bonfire of Mosz-
kowski’s, i.e., their mud, which they will then tip over you again.—I could think of
only one way to counter this effect of Moszkowski’s book in time with an equally
large countereffect, and that would be this article, dealing with the literature on rel-
ativity theory and reporting about the friends and opponents in this literature. And
this article ought to come from you
yourself.[9]
I know that you are immediately
going to say no categorically, but you might discuss this idea sometime with Mr.
Planck or Mr. von Laue, whose attitude you, of course, cannot doubt and whose
judgment you assign due weight
to.[10]
Perhaps a conversation with Mr. Planck or
Mr. von Laue will have the outcome that you not write the article, but maybe Mr.
von
Laue[11]
or even Mr. Planck
himself,[12]
or you will find someone else suitable.
But I beg you—and I believe I am really speaking on behalf of all your sincere and
sympathetic adherents and admirers—not to let my request fade away unheard and
take it into consideration and let me know your decision very soon.
With best regards, your very devoted servant,
A. Berliner.
29. From Niels Bohr
Copenhagen ø. Blegdamsvej 15, 22 January 1921
Dear Professor Einstein,
I still have not written you to express my thanks for all your kindness in
Berlin,[1]
and that, to the great dismay of Danish physicists, you could not come to
Copenhagen this time. I waited in the hope of being able to tell you, at the same
time, something about advances in my research but had so many duties to fulfill
meanwhile that I could not do any proper work, but hope to be able to tell you
something better very soon. The occasion for writing you these lines is also just that
Professor H. I. Hannover, director of the Polytechnic Institute in Copenhagen,