240 THE PROBLEM OF EVOLUTION 



SUPPLEMENT 



THE long discussion of February 18th, 1907, was 

 over. It was represented in some newspapers as 

 having been a great intellectual conflict. What 

 was its result ? Did I and my opponents arrive at 

 any understanding regarding our various opinions ? 

 No, such was not the, result of the discussion, nor was 

 such a result possible, considering the circumstances. 

 I believe, however, that not only I, but also my 

 opponents, originally intended in the course of the 

 discussion simply to state our various views plainly 

 and dispassionately. Circumstances unfortunately 

 frustrated their good intention. On this topic I 

 may refer to the view expressed by an impartial 

 witness on my opponents' side, Professor Dr. H. 

 Potonie, who retired on the day of the discussion. 1 



In the Naturwissenschaftliche Wochenschrift for 

 1907, No. 10, p. 157, he writes : ' Just as Father 

 Wasmann stated his opinion in a very brilliant 

 fashion, especially in the three lectures that preceded 

 the evening discussion, so, I think, are we too in a 

 position to indicate our present point of view, and to 

 allude only to the matters on which we differ.' 

 This was said by an editor of the Naturwissenschaft- 



1 Of. p. 87. 



