Letter from Stefan Świeżawski written 10.07.1965

Stefan Świeżawski                                    c                                       c                10 July 65.
41 Bd Victor, Paris 15e.

Beloved and Most Honoured Professor,

     c   I’ve received both of your letters, for which I thank you very much – and I had a thorough conversation with Gandillac; in this letter, I’ll convey the results of this conversation. It’s worth applying for a position in CNRS [Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; National Centre for Scientific Research], but in order to have a chance at obtaining it, it’s unfortunately necessary to fulfil a number of conditions, which I’m conveying in accordance with Gandill[ac]’s instructions. It’s necessary, then, to:
c   1. Fill in precisely and list, as well as obtain, the papers included in ‘Nomenclature’, enclosed in this letter. I’m sending two copies of the form, because one may become spoiled.
c   In ‘Demande personnelle’ [French: personal request] it is necessary simply to ask to be appointed to a ‘poste de chercheur’ [position of researcher].
c   In ‘Notice individuelle’ [individual notice] it is necessary to specify the topic of the research that you want to carry out in Paris and define it in such a way that this topic would justify your presence in France in particular. This can’t be simply writing a book, but rather such preparatory or supplementary work which should be done here in particular; the accent is placed on recherche [research].
c   Apart from sending Spór [Controversy over the Existence of the World, by Ingarden] in German to de Gandillac (Maurice de Gandillac, 3 rue Rigaud, Neuilly s. Seine), it’s not necessary to send offprints (3: Tirages à part [offprints]; however, the fullest possible bibliography of your papers is required. In ‘Demande personnelle’ you can write that you’ve sent Spór to Professor de Gandillac and possibly attach a few more offprints to the application; the rest are only mentioned in the Bibliography.
c   There’s no need to concern yourself with point (6); however, it’s necessary to attach a birth certificate (excerpt from the public register) and medical certificate as in point (9).
c   De Gandillac will be in Poland for a few days, having been officially invited by PAN [Polish Academy of Sciences] (15 to 21 November; 19th in Cracow), but he’s asked you to send your complete ‘dossier’ directly to CNSR as soon as possible.
c   2. De Gandillac thinks it is very important for you to attach a certificate from PAN, supporting your assumption of the position in CNRS, to your application.
c   3. The references for your application to the Commission as a philosopher will be de Gandillac and Ricoeur; de Gandillac is of the opinion that it would be very good if you were to write to Ricoeur (Paul Ricoeur, „Le Mur Blanc”, 19 rue d’Antony Châtenay-Malabry (Seine)), presenting him with your intentions and asking him to see to this matter along with de Gandillac at CNRS.
c   I’m afraid that all of these bureaucratic aspects will discourage you; unfortunately, they’re indispensable, and I personally advise you to undertake this effort, if this trip truly constitutes part of your plans and intentions. De Gandill[ac] is extremely friendly and wants very much to help. I’m giving you our Warsaw address, as you ask me to do in your letter: Wiślana 2.

We both warmly congratulate you on your lovely wedding anniversary and send both of you our best wishes and greetings; I kiss your wife’s hand; and wish with all my heart for your Paris plans to come to fruition. I enclose expressions of full respect

Stefan Świeżawski