DOCS.
541,
542 MAY 1918 561
with
a new
position
of
equilibrium,
which would
then
be able to
persist
again
for
another
few
thousand
years.
You
see,
esteemed
Professor,
this
foolish
war
and its outcome do not
interest
me
at all
anymore,
but
for times
to
come,
for
the
future of
Europe, something
ought
to be
done,
and
perhaps
you
will
reconsider whether
you
might
want
to
speak
once
after
all
as a
European
to
Europeans
and
help
in
collecting
together
all
the
separate
things
that
are
being
shoved into
corners
and
evaded,
to allow
them
to be heard.[4]
Today
would
bring more success
than
four
years ago,
even
in
Germany.[5]
One
just
does not have to
turn
to
the
party
bosses
exactly!
With
cordial and
very respectful regards, sincerely
and
devotedly yours,
Georg
Nicolai.
542. From
Max Wien
Jena, 18
May
1918
Esteemed
Colleague,
Many
thanks
for
both of
your
letters,
which have reached
me
here. I
am
very
sorry
to
have
to
inform
you
that
I
must insist
on my
refusal;[1]
it
really
does not
work,
I
cannot take
on even more.
Now I
must
spend
the
1-1/2
vacation
days
at
Pentecost almost
exclusively
at
my desk,
because all
my private correspondence
has been
neglected.
I
am
very
willing
to
assume
the
chairmanship
sometime
later
when calmer
times have
returned.
Some other
uncommitted
colleague
would be much
better
suited
for it
now.
The fact
that
I happen to
be
working
in
Berlin[2]
has
actually
nothing
to do
with
it,
as
I
actually imagine
the
responsibility
of
a
chairman of
the German
Physical Society
to
be
broad;
the
management
of
the affairs of
the
Berlin “local
chapter”
would have to remain
now as
before in
the hands
of
a
Berlin
member.[3] We
could
possibly
discuss this
once
orally,
of
course.
With best
regards,
ever
yours truly,
M.
Wien.