London, 26 September 1892 

Dear Baron, 

Herewith what I consider to be indispensable amendments * to the 
two passages.°’° 

I. As regards the adoption on the last day of a resolution to attend 
the Zurich Congress >*! after all, I have neither read anything to that 
effect, nor have I heard anything from Aveling who was present. 
Something of the kind is said to have appeared in the Daily Tele- 
graph but this cannot be ascertained today. Aveling, who was intend- 
ing to come here, has not so far, 4.40, turned up, so I am unable to ask 
him. The report in the Daily News says nothing of the kind. Nor does 
that in the Workman’s Times. Bebel may have seen something of the 
sort in the Frankfurter.” Consequently, I think it might be safest to 
qualify the passage as you have done. 

II. It is true that a meeting of people describing themselves as the 
Independent Labour Party took place in Glasgow under the chairman- 
ship of Keir Hardie. It is, however, the INDEPENDENT Lasour Party which 
Burgess (Autolycus) of the Workman’s Times is attempting to consti- 
tute off his own bat, and in no sense a genuine, recognised party like, 
say, our own in Germany or Austria; rather it is a sect like the Soctat 
Democratic Feperation ?° with which it is in competition. Bebel was 
probably misled by Keir Hardie’s name into taking the thing more 
seriously than it deserved. But Keir Hardie is a Scot and his diplo- 
macy is too canny by half; moreover he has an urge to make the most 
of his new position as M. P. (thereby occasionally making a fool of 
himself) but will probably turn out well once he’s had a chance to 
sow his wild oats. To my mind he is better than he seems to be just 
now. 

* See this volume, pp. 545-46.- Frankfurter Zeitung und Handelsblait 

I shall write to Bebel* about this, in fact shall do so now. More 
anon. Ede should be back tomorrow or on Wednesday. Your com- 
missions shall be carried out. 

Your 
F.E.