DOCS. 424-426 DECEMBER 1917-JANUARY
1918
433
We
wish
you happiness
and
good
health
for
1918,
yours,
Zangger.
425. To Wilhelm von Siemens
[Berlin,]
4
January
1918
To
Privy
Councillor
von
Siemens
Esteemed
Privy
Councillor,
Regarding
the draft
contract, which
we
sent
you
on
31
November
1917,[1] we
note
the
following.
It
is
the
intention
of
the
Board
of
Directors to
arrange
that
the
astronomer Dr. Freundlich receive
a
kind
of
stipend
for
a
number
of
years.
This
way,
he should be
placed
in the
position
to devote himself for
some
years
exclusively
to
practical
astronomical research with
the
purpose
of testing
the
general
theory
of
relativity.[2]
As
Dr. Freundlich
is
married and
without
means,
and
because
living
quarters
in
the
proximity
of
the
New
Babelsberg
Observatory
are
very expensive,
we
believe
that the
planned
amount
is not excessive.[3]
The draft
contract
was
examined and
approved by
all members of
the
Board
of
Directors.
However,
Mr. Nernst
desires
that
§2
of
the draft
be
omitted;[4]
Mr.
Planck and
I consent
to
the
striking
of
the
§,[5]
the
other
gentlemen presumably
also,[6]
who could not
yet
be consulted.
We
would be
grateful
to
you
and
the
other
Trustees for
a
prompt
decision
on
this
matter,
especially
since
the
solution
to
Dr.
Freundlich’s
professional relationship
with the
Roy.
Observatory
in New
Babelsberg
is
linked
to
it.[7]
In the event
that the draft
contract
is
approved by
the
Board
of
Trustees,
I
shall consider
myself
authorized to conclude
the
contract
with
Dr. Freundlich.
On this occasion
I
ask
the
Board
of
Trustees
to
inform
me
whose
signatures
are
required
in such
cases.
Very respectfully,
A.
Einstein.
426.
From Wilhelm
Schweydar[1]
Potsdam, 21
Leipziger St.,
4 January 1918
Dear Mr.
Einstein,
If
your
kind
letter
of
Jan.
2nd,
for which
I
thank
you very much,
had
not
contained
the
news
that
you are
seriously
ill,
it would have
sparked
in
me
perfect