A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 6. (Szeged, 2003)
András LENGYEL – András LENGYEL, jr.: Polányi Mihály levelei Orowan Egonhoz
Typewritten letter with autograph signature. Printed text on the notepaper Qeft): Telephone: Andwick 2681. / Professor M. Polanyi, (right): The Victoria / University of Manchester / Department of Chemistry. your negotiations with the people in U.S.S.R.: returning from Germany to Budapest, Egon Orowan was struggling to find a job and got offers from the U.S.S.R. One from Professor Joffe to work in Leningrad and another one from Professor Dorf man to Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). These invitations failed due to the hindering and bureaucratic administration of the soviet authorities. About this see the content of Orowan's draft letter to Polanyi (letter 2/a). — Joffe: Abram Joffe (1880-1960) soviet physicist; attended St. Petersburg Technological Institute, then "from 1902 to 1906 he worked in Munich as an assistant to W. C. Roentgen. In 1932, Joffe became director of the Leningrad Physico-Agronomy Institute." [2.] 23 rd , November, 1935. Dear Orowan, I am sorry to have to damp the hopes a little which I expressed in my letter a week ago. Considerable dificulties have arisen from the fact that the people here were looking on your Russian connections as if you were definitely going to Russia and would be attempting to get a position here for a short time only, till you could go to Russia. I have explained, and I hope explained correctly, that there is scarcely any chance that you will go to Russia. First of all because you do not like the idea at all. I have now discussed the matter both with Bragg and Professor Namier, who is in charge of various relief funds. The question arose, whether you belonged to the Jewish confession, in which case the Professional Committee in London could also be approached, whereas otherwise we would have to rely on the Academic Assistance Council and on local funds, which we have in Manchester. Would you please inform me whether whether you belong to the Jewish religious community, would you please also provide me with a statement of your prospects and intentions with regard to a position in Russia? I will then proceed with the matter further, which I still think to be very hopeful. Yours sincerely, M Polanyi Typewritten letter with autograph signature. Printed text on the notepaper Qeft): Telephone: Andwick 2681. / Professor M. Polanyi, (right): The Victoria / University of Manchester / Department of Chemistry. in my letter a week ago: this letter is not known, it has not survived in Orowan's legacy. — as if you were [...] going to Russia: cf. letter 1 and its comments. — Bragg: Sir William (Henry) Bragg (1862-1942) British physicist. Discovered the law of
