FELIX WITTMER TELEPHONE MONTCLAIR 3-3071 April 16,1952 395 GROVE STREET UPPER MONTCLAIR, N. J. Dr. Ludwig von Mises 777 West End Avenue New York City Dear Dr. von Mises : After sleeping over your suggestions - sleeping is always one of the most important physical functions of the writer because it permits creative interaction of subconscious bits of thought - I have decided on two changes in my article which are a result of your extremely worthwhile critical cooperation. 1) It must be made clear that the definition of distinction between Communism and Socialism is current and faulty. ( That is of course the task of the entire article.) 2) It is very important to show how imported socialism found response in autochthonous trends Otherwise, the fascist- like know-nothing jingoists are likely to use my statement to their advantage. Your letter has also inspired another thought in me which I present to your cogitation. You state that yourestyle is not for the masses. In fact, it is not even for the top 10 per cent of our college graduates. ( Alas ! ) In February, 1951 when one Theodore Adamcik of Passaic, who was my best student in foreign affairs courses, was called to active service, I gave him as the most worthwhile present of which I could think your " Human Action. " Even though he has managed to hold a soft job at Camp Dix and spends about every other week end at home, he hasn't read more than a page or two of your marvelous book. From all I know that is typical Now, the idea I have in mind is this. Would you be interested in doing a PRIMER FOR FREE ENTERPRISE together with me ? If whipped into attractive and dynamic shape, this sort of a little book would in all likelihood be reprinted by some such firm as Pocket Books, Inc. It would mean a valuable contribution to the fight for freedom. Unless I find a better solution for this type of book ( a mere 60,000 words, I would say we would work on it in the following fashion : I'll have a series of conversations with you, during which I ( or someone who attends ) take a few notes. ( I can do it myself.) I'll ask you simple questions such as : How much taxation can a corporation stand ? How much can the small businessman stand ? What sort of union helps the worker without interfering with free enterprise ? To what ( if any ) extent should the buying of stocks be regulated ? Why did