[London,] 27 July 1869 
Dear Frep, 

Amongst the enclosed papers, look at the Vorbote and especially 
what I marked on pp. 105, 106. 

You will see that otp Becker* cannot give up making himself 
important.” With his language group system he casts aside our 
whole Rules and the spirit of the statute, and alters our organic 
system into an artificial construction of arbitrary language relations 
instead of real state and national relations. Extremely reactionary 
business, fitting for the pan-Slavists! And all this because we allowed 
him provisionally to remain the centre for his former correspondents, 
until the ‘International’ in Germany gets stronger. 

I immediately put a spoke in his wheel when he attempted at 
the Eisenach Congress’? to promote himself as centre for 
Germany. 

Bebel has sent me 25 thalers for the Belgians from his Workers’ 
Educational Association.*'? Today I acknowledged this gift, and took 
the opportunity to write to him about Becker’s fantasy plans. 

I drew his attention to Article 6 of the Rules,” which only 
recognises national central committees in direct contact with the 
General Council and, where this is impossible because of the 
police, obliges the local groups in each country to correspond directly 
with the General Council. I explained to him the absurdity of 
Becker’s pretensions and finally stated that if the Eisenach 
Congress— quoad © tHE International— accepted Becker’s suggestion, 
we would immediately and publicly quash it as contrary to the 
Rules. 

Incidentally Bebel and Liebknecht had written to me earlier, 
SPONTANEOUSLY, that they had written to Becker telling him they did not 
recognise him but corresponded directly with London. 

Becker himself is not dangerous. But, as we have been informed 
from Switzerland, his secretary Remy was pressed upon him by 
Mr Bakunin and is Bakunin’s tool. This Russian obviously wishes 

a Johann Philipp Becker - > Rules and Administrative Regulations of the International 
Working Men’s Association (see present edition, Vol. 20, pp. 441-46). - © regarding 

to become the dictator of the European workers’ movement. He 
should be careful. Otherwise he will be officially excommunicated. 

Your 
Moor 

As soon as I receive copies* from Meissner I shall send them to 
my friends in Manchester and Charles Roesgen.