Johann Georg Eccarius
Record of Karl Marx's corrections on the report of his
speech on the recognition of the French Republic

at the meeting of the General Council, February 21, 1871

The Eastern Post.
Nr. 126, 26. Februar 1871

... Dr. Marx called the attention of the Council to the incorrectness of the report
of his speech at the previous meeting. He was reported to have said, "The moment the Republic was proclaimed, everybody in France was enthusiastically
Republican, but no recognition came and then a reaction set in." What he had
5 said was, that after the proclamation of the Republic, the enthusiasm had been so
great that the opponents of the Republic had been obliged to pretend to be in
favour of it, and he had particularly mentioned the judge of the High Court of
Blois as having played the Republican. There had been recognition by Belgium,
Spain, Italy, Switzerland, &c; but when the opponents of the Republic had
10 found that England did not recognise the Republic, then a reaction had set in.
Then he had never made use of such an expression as "sooner or later, the social
question must be dealt with." What he had said was, that sooner or later the
Republic must have become socialistic. Further on, he was reported to have said,
"that the absence of a monarch had inspired the people to hold out." The absence
15 of monarchy he had said. He had also distinctly stated that the French had
recognised and obeyed their government everywhere. The report conveyed altogether a different meaning. Neither had he said "the admission of France to the
Conference would be tantamount to recognition." It was because the government
was not recognised that it was internationally incapable of acting. Among other
20 inaccuracies pointed out by the speaker was, "England could only use 'more'
force without," which ought to be "moral" force. ...

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