I N T R O D U C T I O N T O V O L U M E 1 3 x l v i i of getting to know” Einstein, it also deemed him best suited to aid in the reestab- lishment of relations between German and French scholars. Einstein, at first posi- tively inclined to accept, nevertheless feared that, at a time when his German colleagues were still being excluded from international scientific meetings, “my visit to Paris would have more adverse than favorable consequences” and might even be construed as “an act of betrayal” (Doc. 63). But soon thereafter, due to “a fortuitous conversation” with Walther Rathenau, Einstein changed his mind (Doc. 69). He would give four lectures at the Collège and attend a discussion eve- ning at the Société de philosophie, but insisted that he would neither participate in public sessions and lectures, nor would he accept private invitations. He would have no contact with journalists, dreaded the prospect of having to lecture in French, but did express an interest in discussing with select politicians the reestab- lishment of international relations. On 28 March, he was greeted by Langevin and Charles Nordmann at the French border. Upon his arrival at the Gare du Nord, Einstein evaded the waiting journal- ists and lodged in a quiet apartment whose location was kept secret. In the end, he gave only one lecture at the Collège, attended by 350 people who had been personally invited. Paul Block, the Paris correspondent of the Berliner Tageblatt, reported that Einstein received a two-minute standing ovation following his lecture, and that no negative pronouncements were heard. The other three appearances at the Collège were restricted to smaller audiences and took place as discussions rather than formal presentations. It appears that Einstein may have been invited to speak at the Académie des Sciences, but that a group of academicians opposed the visit. The surrounding rumors led to severe criticism of the Academy in French newspapers, although no trace of the incident can be found in Einstein’s correspondence.[12] Einstein, both privately and publicly, was thrilled with the “extremely cordial” reception he was accorded by his French colleagues. He wrote his wife, Elsa, that the visit was “incomparably better than I had expected” and hoped that the Ger- mans would appreciate “what services I performed for them here by this visit” (Docs. 130, 123, 134, and Appendix A). In writing both to Henri Barbusse and Ro- main Rolland, he deplored the “rigid” convictions surrounding the question of war guilt in both Germany and Paris, but he was “particularly” pleased that he had not encountered “any trace of triumphant pride or bravado” (Docs. 152 and 274). Ein- stein avoided attending any meetings of a political or social nature, including ones with the German community in Paris, and tenaciously focused on promoting “a re- laxation of the terrible tension between the French and German intelligentsia” and on creating or renewing “ties with French colleagues in my field” (Doc. 153). As a