Emily Greene Balch to Yella Fuchs Hertzka, December 9, 1920

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Geneva, -- DECEMBER 9, 1920.

Dear Frau Hertzka,

I felt like crying when I learned that Miss Royds had felt she must go back to England in such a hurry that she could not get to Vienna and see you. I had counted on her having a good talk with you and seeing the situation for herself and most of all on both agreeing on some plan.

As it [stands] it does seem to be the case that early in August is the time to get teachers together. We talked this over here last summer, Dr. Arnesen, Madame Duchêne and Mlle Gobat and it really seemed the one period which was not too early for some (the French) and too late for others, especially those from the North. It is excellent for the Americans though for them July would ↑be↓ all right also.

Moreover the English group were told by me long ago that they might go ahead and make arrangements for that date. I am afraid I was hasty in not waiting till your return, but last year the whole plan failed because of delay on my part and they consider that to get the halls etc, and the [program] and the speakers and then to get out announcements, and hear from those who would like to come takes a long, long time. So altogether I felt I had to authorize them to make definitive arrangements. So I think we must regard the plan for a Salzburg School the first two weeks of August as a fait accompli.

Now what about the Congress? It seems to me that to have the Congress the first of July and the School the first two weeks of August would be fatal to one or the other if not to both.

Please let me know what you think? Would it help at all if after all I came to Vienna very soon to talk it over. Of course, we all want the same thing -- to have a successful series of meetings, to [illegible] make the preparation for these as easy and pleasant to one another as we can and to get the plans decided on in good season, so that they may not suffer by hurry [illegible] at the end. I wish I could wave a fairy wand and make it possible for all concerned to have just what they think best.

Yours always affectionately,