London, 2 November 1872 
122 Regent’s Park Road 

Dear Sorge, 

Enclosed is my report on Spain. 

I have just been asked to inform the General Council officially 
of the formation of the following two sections: 

1. Associazione degli operai e degli agricoltori della Bassa 
Lombardia (Sezione di Lodi), Enrico Bignami, Via Cavour 19 
(secretary). 

2. Consociazione dei liberi Lavoratori Abruzzesi (Sezione di 
Aquila, in the province of the same name. Correspondence via 
Lodi for the moment). 

The announcement comes from Bignami, who also states that 
both have adopted Rules that conform to the General Rules. I shall 
ask for copies and send them to you.™ 

Bignami is the only fellow in Italy to have taken our side, even 
though not very vigorously up to now. In his paper, La Plebe, he 
has printed not only my report on the Hague Congress* but also 

a Lydia Burns - > Mary Ellen Burns - ¢ F. Engels, ‘Report to the General Council of 
the I.W.M.A. upon the Situation in Spain, Portugal and Italy.’ - ¢ F. Engels, “The 
Congress at The Hague (Letter to Enrico Bignami)’. 

my much more outspoken private letter to him.* Since I have to 
send him news reports, the paper remains in our hands. In 
addition, he has had the General Rules reprinted with the Hague 
amendments and also my Congress report.” He is surrounded by 
the autonomists and so still has to act circumspectly. 

I hear nothing from Turin any more. In Milan Cuno must 
find at least one contact for us so that we at least get reports. We 
hear from Ferrara via Lodi; the section was established by Big- 
nami. 

Marx asks me to tell you that at the moment the minutes” are still 
absolutely necessary here. In view of the lies that Hales, 
Mottershead and Eccarius are spreading here, as well as those of 
the Jurassians, etc., on the Continent, it may turn out any day that 
we need to reply in the form of extracts from these minutes. For 
you, on the other hand, they can easily be dispensed with for the 
time being. We are making a copy of the parts with the 
administrative resolutions together with their motivation and shall 
send it to you. 

To be on the safe side I am again giving you the addresses for 
Spain, Italy and Portugal. If you have accepted the post, I think it 
is very sensible to have a single corresponding general secretary, 
who will only co-opt assistants for languages.°° 
Best regards to you all. 

Your 
F. Engels 

José Mesa y Leompart, Calle de San Pedro No. 16, 3° (3rd 
* floor), Madrid. 

Spanish Federal Council: In a double envelope (the inner one to 
be addressed to Francisco Tomas) to Don Julian Valero, Calle de 
Sorolla 35, Valencia. 

Lisbon: Signor Dom J. C. Nobre-Franga, Travessa do Abar- 
racamento de Peniche No. 4, 2° andar (2nd floor), Lisboa. 

Turin: Inner envelope: Cesare Bert, Secretary of the local 
section. Outer: Monsieur J. J. Goss, Concierge de l’église évangéli- 
que, No. 1, Via Principe Tommaso, Turin. 

Turin, alternative address: Luigi Perrini, Viale del Ré 21 
(without inner envelope, he is an old member). 

Report on Italy to follow—on Portugal Lafargue is translating 
the report sent from there to the Congress. 

a F, Engels, ‘Letters from London.—II. More about the Hague Congress’. - > of the 
former General Council 

I am just revising the French translation of the Manifesto; the 
handwritten version that has been brought is quite good in the 
main, in so far as Woodhull was good.™