D O C . 3 4 M A Y 1 9 1 9 3 1 Furthermore, it seems to me unavoidably necessary that you be able to count on a certain amount of support on the part of the German government. You must be assured that it intends to help in fully illuminating the facts and that no obstacles will be placed in the way of publication of the commission’s verdict and of free dis- cussion about it. You must have this assurance, it seems to me, before you approach the Belgians and the French in any way, because if they hear about your plans and should later learn that you are not completely free to speak, more may be lost than gained. In the next few days my wife and I will be traveling to Paris to visit her sister,[3] and we are thinking of stopping in Brussels for a while on our return. I shall thus have the opportunity to speak with various people, with colleagues in France, and with Messrs. Solvay, Heger, Tassel,[4] and a few others in Belgium. Specifically I am thinking of Prof. Massart, who some years ago launched an appeal to the 93 German scholars and artists, regrettably with as good as no response [You are fa- miliar with the letter that Planck, in agreement with a few Berlin colleagues, had sent me independently of that appeal.],[5] to initiate an investigation like the one you are envisioning. I now hope to find him willing to promote implementation of this plan. Perhaps—but this I must allow to depend on the circumstances—I may also try to contact members of the Church and the Freemasons you know that in- vitations similar to the one by Mr. Massart had been extended from among these circles as well to the Germans.[6] Furthermore, I am thinking of Prof. Noyons in Louvain he is Dutch and has seen much, for he was in Louvain throughout the whole period of hostilities.[7] It may also be helpful that I let other compatriots of mine know about the matter and gain their counsel. In any event, it will be necessary to mention your name to whomever I discuss this matter with. In doing so it goes without saying that I will vouch for your abso- lute veracity and the probity of your convictions. I shall be able to speak confidentially with the Dutch, but it would not be fitting to request secrecy of others. I should now very much like to hear from you whether my efforts in the above- described sense meet with your wishes. I ask you to please answer this question taking into account what was said above about the German government. Since a let- ter will no longer be able to reach me here and you probably will not be able to write me in Paris, please send a telegraph to de Haas in Delft [8] he will then inform me about what he hears from you. You will surely have nothing against my telling him confidentially what it is about. You could also write to him, but in consider- ation of the long delays I would prefer a telegram, if you can express your opinion
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