London, 17 December 1869 

Dear Fred, 

Best thanks for £100.° Yesterday I couldn’t acknowledge 
because of the sudden appearance of Strohn. The poor fellow had 
his blood relapse again in May. Because of his health, he has had 
to hang around since then in Switzerland, etc.; looks very poorly 
and is very peevish. The doctors recommend him to marry. 
Strohn will be returning from here to Bradford, and desires you 
to return him the Urnings or whatever the paederast’s book is 
called.” 

As soon as he goes (on Monday) I shall myself buzz around 
town to raise the Prendergast‘ I couldn’t do it last week because of 
the filthy weather, which I couldn't risk to undergo in my 
not-yet-restored state of health. I remember vaguely that, in his 
introduction, Prendergast depicts the Anglo-Norman period, it 
seems to me, in fantastic-uncritical-optimistic radiant colours. The 
book must be obtained for you also to consult for the first period. 
Our Irish resolutions’ have been sent to all Trades unions that 
maintain ties with us. Only one has protested, A SMALL BRANCH OF THE 
CURRIERS, saying they are political and not within the sphere of 
action of the Council. We are sending a deputation to enlighten 

a See the previous letter. - » K. H. Ulrichs, ‘Argonauticus’. Zastrow und die Urninge 
des pietistischen, ultramontanen und freidenkenden Lagers.-° J. P. Prendergast, The 
Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland. - 4 See this volume, pp. 375-76. 

them. Mr Odger has now noticed how useful it was for him to 
vote for the resolutions despite all sorts of diplomatic objections. As 
a result, the 3-4,000 Irish electors in Southwark have promised 
him their votes. 

From the enclosed Fgalité which I must have back, you'll see 
how impudent il Signor Bakunin is becoming.*” This fellow now 
has control over 4 organs of the International (Egalité, Progres in 
Locle, Federacion, Barcelona, and Eguaglianza, Nar.es). He is trying 
to gain a foothold in Germany through alliance with Schweitzer, 
and in Paris through flattery for the newspaper Le Travail. He 
believes the moment has come to start an open squabble with us. 
He is playing himself up as the guardian of real proletarianism. 
But he’s in for a surprise. Next week (luckily the Central Council * 
has adjourned until the Tuesday? after New Year’s Day, so we on 
the subcommittee are free to work without the cosy intervention of 
the English) we shall be sending a threatening missive to the Romance 
Federal Committee‘ in Geneva, and since the gentlemen know 
(incidentally a major part, perhaps the greater part are against 
Bakunin) that, according to the resolutions of the last Congress, 
we can suspend them if necessary, they will consider the matter 
twice. 

The main point on which our Missive turns is this: the only 
representation with regard to us of the branches romandes en Suisse 
is the Federal Committee there. They have to dispatch their demandes 
and reprimandes tous privately,throughtheirsecretary, Perret. Theyhave 
absolutely no right TO ABDICATE THEIR FUNCTIONS INTO THE HANDS OF THE 
Egalité (a NON-EXISTENCE for us), and to expect the Central Council to 
get involved in public explanations and polemics with this 
remplacant. Whether or not the rejoinders of the General Council 
are published in the organs of the international branches, the 
whole thing depends on the decision of the General Council, 
which alone is directly responsible to the Congress. At this 
opportunity, blows will fall upon certain intrigants who are 
usurping undue authority, and who wish to subject the Internation- 
al to their private control. 

Regarding the tumult of the Cossacks about the Bulletin, the 

matter is as follows: 
It was decided at the Brussels Congress that we should 

publish ‘tn THE several Languages’ bulletins on strikes etc., ‘AS OFTEN AS 1TS 

138 

a General Council - > 4 January 1870 - © K. Marx, The General Council to the Federal 
Council of Romance Switzerland. - 4 Romance branches in Switzerland - ¢ An allusion 
to Mikhail Bakunin and his supporters. 

(tHe General Councilit) means Permit’.°’ But on the condition that we, 
for our part, received reports, documents, etc., from the Federal 
comités at least every 3 months. Since we have received neither these 
reports nor the means to print reports, this resolution naturally 
remained a dead letter. In fact, it became superfluous as a result of 
the founding of numerous international] newspapers, which 
exchange with one another (Bee-Hive as register of English strikes, 
ete.). 

At the Congress in Basle,’ the question was raked up again. 
The Congress treated the Brussels resolutions on the Bulletin as 
NON-EXISTENT. Otherwise, it would simply have charged the Central 
Council with carrying them out (which would, once again, without 
the provision of means, have remained a lettre morte*). At issue was 
a bulletin in a different sense (not, as before, a resumé of strikes, 
etc., but RATHER GENERAL REFLEXIONS ON THE MOVEMENT). The Congress did 
not, however, come to a vote on this point. There is, therefore, at 
present no resolution In tus question. But what a marvellous policy 
it would be to inform the public, through an open reply to Egalité 
that, at an earlier date, the Brussels resolutions remained 
unfeasible, 1. because the Memsers did not pay their pence, and 2. 
because the Federal comités did not perform their functions! 

With regard to Schweitzer, Mr Bakunin, who understands 
German, knows that Schweitzer and his gang do not belong to 
the International. He knows that Schweitzer publicly rejected Lieb- 
knecht’s offer to appoint the General Council as arbiter. His 
interrogation is all the more villainous since his friend Ph. Becker, 
the president of the German language groups,’” sits on the Geneva 
Federal Council, in order to give them the necessary informa- 
tion there. His aim is simply to gain a grip on Schweitzer. Mais il 
verral? 

I have written fully to De Paepe‘ about the affair (to lay before 
the Brussels Central Committee). 

As soon as a Russian gets a foothold, there is the devil to pay. 

Borkheim has now plunged into Turkish. 

Will you be going to Germany? 

379 

Salut. 
Your 
K. M.