[ 19 36 -1 939 ]^30
our correspondent in Paris to whom I wrote asking if he knew anything
about Reich." He handed me the letter. It said in effect that you are
mad, that your discoveries are nonsense: the writer said: "I asked three
of the best biologists in Paris what they thought of Bione and they said
the Bione were worthless, and that R. should stick to his own subject
analysis. The letter was signed J .L. I asked who he was and was told
he was a doctor of broad mind.
1 handed back the letter and said: "Then there is nothing more to
discuss." I feel so angry with myself for putting you in this position, yet
it is of value to know what is going on behind the scenes. It is good to
know that the fight against you has reached England. I fear that your
only chance now is America. Europe is dead to new ideas. I fear now
to try to approach any other person in England. You are an outsider
to them all: that's the main point. What right has a psychoanalyst to
dare to even talk of biology? That is their attitude. I can't find one
scientist broad enough in mind even to try to find out if you are a
fool or not.
1 hate to have to write thus: 1 thought at last I could help you in
the Lancet. 1 feel that I want to write a bitter article on British scientists
calling them the narrowest men in the world.
Thanks for all the literature. The booklet on Die Arbeit [Work] is
brilliant.
Tell me how your eyes are.
- I •
Oslo, Norway
March 13, 1939
Dear N eill!*
I am sending you herewith a summary of my observations on
the radiating bions-for your own use only. The matter is now being
examined in Holland, quantitatively and qualitatively.
Please write whether you were successful with the work [presumably
the translated bion paper].
Then I should also like to know whether you are coming over at
Easter, so that I can reserve an hour for you in good time. I shall* Translated from the original German. Reich had not yet received Neill's
letter of March 4.