456 DOC.
449
JANUARY
1918
449. To
Mileva
Einstein-Maric
[Berlin,]
31 January 1918
Dear
Mileva,
The
endeavor
finally
to
put
my private
affairs in
some
state
of order
prompts
me
to
suggest
the
divorce
to
you
for
the
second
time.[1]
I
am
firmly
resolved
to
do
everything
to
make
this
step possible.
In
the
case
of
a
divorce,
I would
grant
you significant pecuniary advantages
through particularly
generous
concessions.
1)
9 000 M
instead of
6 000
M,[2]
with the
provision
that
2
000 of
it be
deposited
annually
for
the
benefit of
the
children.
2)
The Nobel
Prize-in the
event
of
the
divorce and in
the
event
that it
is
bestowed
upon
me-would
be ceded
to
you
in full
a
priori.[3] Disposal
of
the interest
would be left
entirely
to
your
discretion. The
capital
would be
deposited
in Switzerland and
placed
in
safe-keeping
for
the
children.
My
payments
named under
(1)
would
then
fall
away
and be
replaced by
an
annual
payment
which
together
with
that
interest
totals
8
000 M.
In
this
case
you
would have
8
000 M at
your
free
disposition.
3)
The
widow’s
pension
would be
promised
to
you
in the
case
of
a
divorce.[4]
Naturally,
I
would make such
huge
sacrifices
only[5]
in the
case
of
a
voluntary
divorce. If
you
do
not consent to
the
divorce,
from
now on,
not
a
cent
above
6
000
M
per year
will
be sent to
Switzerland.
Now I
request
being
informed
whether
you agree
and
are
prepared to file
a
divorce claim
against
me.
I
would take
care
of
everything here,
so
you
would
have
neither trouble
nor
any
inconveniences
whatsoever.[6]
My
friends
report
to
me
regularly
about
your
and
the
children’s
well-being.
I’m
glad
that
you
don’t have
to
endure
fever
and
attacks
anymore.[7]
Albert’s
letters
delight me
exceedingly;
from them
I
see
how
well
the
boy
is
developing
intellectually
and in character.
I
hope
that
through
the
long
stay
in
the mountain
air[8]
Tete has not become
too
sensitive to
the
impure
town air and
will
come
home
soon
reinvigorated.
With
amicable
regards
also to
your sister,
Albert.
Kisses to
the
children.