D O C U M E N T 1 6 6 O N I I I C 1 8 7 166. “The New Institute Must Gain the Confidence and Respect of the Intellectual Workers of All Countries” [Einstein 1926f] Published 16 January 1926 In: L’Europe nouvelle. Coopération intellectuelle 9 no. 413 (16 January 1926): 69–70. For the first time this year, the activity of the European governments has been inspired by the conviction that our continent will not regain its prosperity unless there is finally an end to the perpetual rivalries of national groups. It is necessary to first consolidate the political organization of Europe and to gradually prepare to dismantle the economic borders. This goal will not be attained solely through treaties between states. It will also require, first of all, a preparation of minds. We must try to awaken little by little a feeling of solidarity that will not stop, as up until now, at the borders. It is in this spirit that the League of Nations has established the Committee on Intellectual Co- operation. This committee must be an absolutely international entity, detached from anything political, its purpose being to reestablish, in all aspects of intellec- tual life, connections among the national intellectual groups isolated by the war. This is a difficult task, as it is unfortunately necessary to say that the intellectuals and the artists—at least in the countries that I know reasonably well—are quite a bit more likely to let themselves be guided by narrow national trends than are the representatives of economic activity. Until now, this committee has met two times per year. In order to make its work more effective, the French government has offered to create and to maintain, for the committee, a permanent Institute of Intellectual Cooperation, that should be in- augurated soon. This is a generous act by France which merits the gratitude of all. It is easy to express one’s satisfaction, to give praise, and to keep silent about that which one regrets or does not approve. But only through sincerity can we make progress on the path to which we have committed. I therefore add a criticism to the good wishes that I address to the budding institution. I always have occasion to observe that the greatest obstacle that the work of our committee encounters is the lack of confidence in its political objective. We must do everything to strengthen this confidence and we must refrain from doing anything likely to diminish it. [p. 69]