2 0 6 D O C . 2 4 6 J A N U A R Y 1 9 2 0 time being, especially since I am very much needed here and very busy. My mother is with us now in the apartment in a hopeless condition[2] that could still last very long. The picture by Miss Schleussner is, in my view, unconvincing.[3] It claims to be more interesting than either the original or the artist’s expressive skill allows. Now I have doubts again, after all, about whether I should accommodate my family here (i.e., in Baden).[4] Maybe I can muster enough foreign money to be able to let them stay in Zurich. This may have advantages for my children’s more distant fu- ture, which would justify tackling the difficulties. The displacement of spectrum lines is now virtually secured. For in a paper by Grebe and Bachem, which is about to appear, the previous negative findings from the Sun are explained in a very simple way and corrected.[5] I’ll come to Switzerland as soon as possible, but without giving lectures. Cordial greetings to you and Anna,[6] from your Albert. The P.–M. marriage seems to be coming along better again.[7] 246. To Hellmuth von Gerlach [Berlin,] 6 January 1920 Esteemed Mr. von Gerlach,[1] Friends of mine have pointed out to me that the moment was rife for putting pressure on the government for the immediate release of political prisoners.[2] I am convinced that the current state of affairs is regarded by a large number of influen- tial persons throughout the country as untenable, and that, for instance, a declara- tion bearing their signatures published by a suitable political group or a party rep- resentative (poss. even Center)[3] could meet with success in the National Assembly. The moment seems so auspicious because a lifting of the state of emer- gency without releasing political prisoners is merely a half-measure, quite disre- garding that imprisonment is particularly hard to endure under the present poor food conditions.[4] We are all in agreement that the text on whose basis the signatures are to be so- licited must be written by you. Since you will not be able to remain a stranger to this insight either, I dare to ask this cordially of you. You will certainly manage to avoid the difficulty of a political incident emerging from this matter that would be very harmful to the enterprise.[5] Since the moment must be seized, I beg you ur- gently to relay your answer to me immediately, whatever it may be (poss. by tele- phone Noll[endorfstr.] 2807).[6] With kind regards.