D O C U M E N T S 4 1 2 , 4 1 3 P R E F A C E 3 4 9 foundest of problems. Japan is not merely borrowing the superficial elements of civilization![3] A flood of alien culture is dangerous for any land in which its own high values are too easily underrated and forgotten—I mean what I so much admire and love in the artistic, social, and ethical tradition of your country. In such matters the Japanese does not recognize his superiority over the European it would be of great service to bring this to his consciousness so that he can feel that, with the indiscriminate adoption of European life forms, great values are being jeopardized. Japan may accept the civilizing spirit of Europe and America, but it must know that its soul is far more valuable than these external shimmering little things. With joy and with a trembling hand I accept the splendid reproductions of Japanese-Chinese works of art which you have given me.[4] They will accompany me on this voyage and they will soften the roughness of the transition to Europe. The Japanese artistic hand is of incomparable delicacy. My extant collected works will soon appear in Japanese [5] and I will gladly per- mit myself to have them sent to you, although it will be difficult to insert a dedica- tion. But I will try to do so. I am attaching a small card for your son.[6] Accept my most cordial greetings and please accept my warmest thanks, from your, A. Einstein 412. To Eiichi Tsuchii (Doi)[1] [On board SS Haruna Maru, 30 December 1922][2] He who is familiar with the exertions of pondering scientific problems never feels empty and alone he also gains a firm foothold against the vicissitudes of fate. A greeting for the young man E-i-ichi, Albert Einstein 413. To Sanehiko Yamamoto [On board SS Haruna Maru, 30] December 1922[1] You, Mr. Yamamoto, are one of those natural leaders who, out of an inner compulsion, devote all their energy to improving the social conditions of their nation. This goal, not the program of any party, is your guiding star. But your ideal extends beyond the shaping of Japan, in that you also devote your unflagging dili- gence to the greatest political goals of the present day, namely, the creation of an international organization for the prevention of war catastrophes. For this, first mutual understanding between men of the different nations is needed as well as an