To Rudolf Allers
Dear Colleague, 13 November 1933
The reason why no communication has reached you concerning the state of affairs in Germany is that nobody was clear about what was happening and what is going to happen.
I will give you a brief description of how things stand at present.
The Zentralblatt1 is to continue.
As president of an international medical Society for Psychotherapy I am the more or less involuntary editor of this organ.
As such I would like to secure your valuable cooperation for the Zentralblatt in your former capacity as editor of the reviews section.
At present the Zentralblatt will have to consist mostly of reviews until conditions in Germany have become somewhat clearer.
The German section of the Society for Psychotherapy has been "gleichgeschaltet" [ conformed] and placed under the direction of Prof.
Goring in Elberfeld. (G. is a cousin of the Prime Minister!)
As I was recently informed in Germany, all societies, advisory centres, and other medical organizations concerned with psychotherapy are to be under him.
Goring will also undertake the publication of a special German issue of the Zentralblatt, which is to express what psychotherapy signifies under the present political conditions in Germany.
I must confess that I am still in the dark on this score.
In Switzerland as well as in Holland and Sweden I have secured reviewers in order to ensure a tolerable continuance of the Zentralblatt.
It is not yet certain who will take over the editorship.
As the German section is by far the strongest, I thought of Cimbal or possibly Heyer in Munich.
A foreign editor, I fear, would in the present circumstances meet with not a few difficulties, because the German government, as you know, seems to like having the editors of all periodicals appearing in Germany in safe and uncomfortable proximity.
Otherwise I would have proposed you as editor.
I have written to Cimbal on this matter but so far have received no answer.
It must unquestionably be a "conformed" editor, as he would be in a far better position than I to have the right nose for what one can say and what not.
In any event it will be an egg-balancing dance.
Thank you very much for sending me the announcement of this new journal.
I have declined with thanks to cooperate because I propose to turn my interest more to the Zentralblatt.
Psychotherapy must see to it that it maintains its position inside the German Reich and does not settle outside it, regardless of how difficult its living conditions there may be.
Goring is a very amiable and reasonable man, so I have the best hopes for our cooperation.
As soon as I know more I will let you know.
Meanwhile with collegial regards,
Yours sincerely,
C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. I, Pages 131-132
