London, 23 November, 1868
1, Modena Villas, Maitland Park, Haverstock Hill

To Herr C. Speyer, Secretary of the German Workers’ Educational Society.

I have been informed that the Society has resolved to issue an address to the German workers, the motive of which is to be “the mass unification of the German workers from South and North as a consequence of the Berlin Congress of 6, 26 September”. Under these circumstances I am compelled hereby to declare my resignation from the Workers’ Society.

Such an address obviously aims at, or implies, a public taking of sides by the London German Workers’ Educational Society for Schweitzer and his organisation against the organisation of the Nuremberg Congress, which embraces the greater part of South Germany along with various parts of North Germany. Since I am known in Germany as a member, in fact the oldest member, of the Society, I would be held responsible for this step, all possible protests to the contrary notwithstanding. You must, however, see that I can accept no such responsibility.

First: During the disputes between the Nuremberg organisation, represented by Liebknecht, Bebel, etc., and the Berlin organisation, represented by Schweitzer, both parties wrote to me. I replied that, as Secretary of the General Council of the International Working Men’s Association for Germany, I must maintain the position of an impartial person. I advised both sides, if they could not and would not amalgamate, to seek ways and means of working peacefully side by side for the common aim.

Second: In reply to a letter to me from Herr von Schweitzer, I set forth to him in detail why I can approve neither the manner in which the Berlin Congress was brought about nor the statutes adopted by it.

Third: The Nuremberg Congress has affiliated directly to the International Working Men’s Association. The Hamburg Congress – of which the Berlin Congress was a continuation – affiliated only indirectly, by a declaration of sympathy, owing to the obstacles placed in the way by Prussian legislation. Despite these obstacles, however, the newly formed Berlin Democratic Workers’ Society, which belongs to the Nuremberg organisation, has publicly and officially affiliated to the International Working Men’s Association.

I repeat that, under these circumstances, the resolution of the Society leaves me no other choice than to declare my resignation from it. Would you be so kind as to communicate these lines of mine to the Society.

Your devoted
Karl Marx