DOCS. 205-207 MARCH
1916 205
nothing
else
new
to
put forward,
I shall
close
our
discussion for
the
time
being.
Recently
I
broached
this
subject
with
Planck;
he
sees
the
matter
as
I do. When
you
come
to Berlin
again,
let
us
straighten
it all out.
With best
regards, yours,
A. Einstein.
206. To Hans Albert Einstein
[Berlin,]
30
March
1916
My
dear
Albert,
My
passport,
which
I
need
for
the
trip
to
see
you,
is
causing
me problems.[1]
I
have
already
been
to
the
Swiss
embassy
for
that
reason,[2]
which
I
hope
will
soon
put
the
matter in order. I’ll travel
as soon as
I
can.
I
am
looking
forward
to
you
all
very
much and have in mind
to
go
on a
small
trip
or
hike with
you.
Farewell for
now,
and
kisses to
you
and Tete from
your
Papa.
207. To
David Hilbert
[Berlin,]
30
March
1916
Highly
esteemed
Colleague,
With much
pleasure
do
I
recall the
extremely interesting
and
agreeable days
spent
at
your
hospitable
home.[1] To
you
and
Mrs. Hilbert
many
thanks
for all
your
friendliness
to
me
(including
the
Freundlich-ness* in
the
special
sense
the
word has for
us).[2]
This
affair,
which
is
somewhat
euphemistically
attached
to
the word
“friendly,”
has elicited in
me a
peculiar
kind of reaction. The
plan,
formed
out
of
necessity,
that
Freundlich take
up
the
important
experimental questions
in
Göttingen
un-
der
my responsibility,
has awakened serious doubts in
me
after
all.
For such
a
half-marriage,
not
only
is
a
certain
respect
for the
other
person necessary,
but
also
some
of
that
personal congeniality
which makes
frequently
repeated
meetings
pleasant
and
which sweetens shared
disappointments.
But
in
the
present
case
this
is
decidedly lacking;
that
is
why
I fear
disappointment
would result from such
a
step. Therefore,
I
told
Freundlich
nothing
about
our
conversations in
this
re-
gard
but
only
about
our
foiled assault
on
the
astronomical fortress defended
by