London, 17 July 1889 

Dear Sorge, 

Our congress is in session*”’ and proving a brilliant success. By the day 
before yesterday 358 delegates had arrived and more are on their way. 
About half are foreigners, 81 of them being Germans from all the larger 
and smaller states and provinces excepting only Posen. On the first day 
the first hall was found to be too small, on the second day the second, 

4 T. Tooke, An Inquiry into the Currency Principle ... J. Fullerton, On the 
Regulation of Currencies ... 

whereupon a search was made for a third. The sessions, despite various 
objections on the part of the French (they thought that the Possibilists 
would attract larger audiences in Paris and that it would therefore be 
preferable to meet in camera), are al] being held in public—the only safe- 
guard against mouchards*—at the unanimous request of the Germans. 
All Europe is represented. The Sozialdemokrat will be informing 
America of the numbers by the next post. For the first time Scottish and 
German miners from the colliery districts are foregathering there for 
joint discussions.*”* 

The Possibilists have 80 foreigners (42 British, of whom 15 are from 
the Social Democratic Federation and 17 from the Trades Unions), 7 
Austro-Hungarians (obviously little more than eyewash, this, since the 
whole of the genuine movement over there is on our side), 7 Spaniards, 
7 Italians (3 representing Italian societies abroad), 7 Belgians, 4 
Americans (2 of whom, Bowen and Georgei from Washington, DC,» 
visited me), 2 Portuguese, 1 Swiss (nommé par lui-méme‘), 1 Pole. 
Almost all of them are Trades Unionists. Besides these there are 477 
Frenchmen who, however, represent only 136 chambres syndicales4 
and 77 cercles d’études socialistes, since each little clique may send 3 
delegates, whereas each of our 180 Frenchmen represent one particular 
society. 

The eyewash with regards to fusion is, of course, much in evidence at 
both congresses; the foreigners want fusion, but in both cases the French 
are holding back. Fusion on rational terms is perfectly all right; the 
eyewash, however, consists in the clamour for fusion 4 tout prix, which 
some of our own people are raising. 

Have just seen in the Sozialdemokrat that Liebknecht’s motion in 
favour of fusion has actually been carried by a large majority. What it 
consists in and whether it signifies genuine fusion based on private nego- 
tiations or merely an abstract desire which might lead up to them is not, 
unfortunately, apparent from the report. The easy-going nature of the 
Germans is above such trifles, but the fact that the French have accepted 
it is sufficient guarantee, so far as I’m concerned, that no disgrace will be 
incurred vis-a-vis the Possibilists. 1 shan’t know more until after the post 
has left, probably not until tomorrow. 

4 police spies — > Probably delegates of the German Workers’ Club in 
Washington —° nominated by himself — ¢ trade union chambers ~ ° socialist study 
groups — ‘ at any cost 

In any case you'll no doubt hear the essentials as soon as I shall, for the 
Avelings have made arrangements regarding cabling with the New York 
Herald’s man in Paris. Today I shall send you Saturday’s Reynolds* and 
Monday’s Star—which contain everything of any importance to have 
appeared in the press over here up till now. More on Saturday. 

At all events the intrigues resorted to by the Possibilists and the Social 
Democratic Federation in order that they might worm their way into the 
leading position in France and England respectively have proved a total 
failure and their pretensions to the international leadership still more so. 
If the two congresses, one alongside the other, merely fulfil the purpose 
of deploying their forces—Possibilists and London intriguers here, 
European socialists (who, thanks to the former, figure as Marxists), 
there—so that the world may see where the genuine movement is 
concentrated and where the bogus, that will be enough. Obviously any 
real fusion, supposing it came, would do nothing whatever to stop the 
squabbles continuing in England and France—quite the contrary. It 
would merely mean an imposing demonstration for the benefit of the 
great bourgeois public, a working men’s congress more than 900 strong, 
ranging from representatives of the most docile Trades Unions to the 
most revolutionary communists. And it would put an end once and for 
all to the machinations of the intriguers at subsequent congresses, for 
they have now seen where the real power lies, they have seen that we are 
a match for them in France and their superiors throughout the 
Continent and that their position in England is also very precarious. 

I have received Schliiter’s letter and shall answer it shortly.” I trust 
his business is doing well and that the American climate suits his wife. 

Warm regards to your wife. Schorlemmer arrives this evening. Adler? 
of Vienna is coming over here next week from Paris. 

Your 
EE.