Karl Marx 
The Berlin Conspiracy- 

London Police—Mazzini—Radetzky 

New-York Daily Tribune. 
Nr. 3748, 21. April 1853 

The Berlin Conspiracy- 
London Police— Mazzini—Radetzky. 

Correspondence of The N.Y.Tribune. 

London, Friday, April 8, 1853. 

At the time of writing my last letter concerning the great conspiracy dis- 
covered by Mr. Stieber, I could not anticipate, that my views on that affair 
would be more or less confirmed by two Conservative Berlin papers. The 
Preussische Wochenblatt, the organ of the Conservative faction headed by 
Mr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, was confiscated on April 2d for recommending 
its readers "not to believe too hastily in the tales of the police respecting the 
late arrests." But of far greater importance is an article in the Zeit, the 
semi-official journal belonging to the section of the Prussian Ministry headed 
by M. von Manteuffel. The Zeit is compelled to make the following ad- 
mission: 

"Whosoever is not struck with blindness, cannot but be aware that the 
numerous and inextricable complications presented by the general situation 
of Europe must lead in a given time, to a violent explosion, which the sincere 
endeavors of the Great Powers of Europe may postpone for a while, but to 
prevent which in a permanent way they are utterly unable, notwithstanding 

all human exertions ... It is for us the accomplishment of a duty not to 
dissimulate any longer, that discontent is spreading wider and wider and is 
the more dangerous and the more deserving of serious attention, as it appears 
not at the surface but conceals itself more and more in the depth of men's 
minds. This discontent, we must say without paraphrase, is created by the 
efforts to bring about a counter-revolution in Prussia latterly paraded with 
an incredible étourderie." 

The Zeitis only mistaken in its conclusion. The Prussian counter-revolu- 

Karl Marx 

tion is not now about to be commenced, it is to be ended. It is not a thing 
of recent growth, but began on March 20th, 1848, and has been steadily 
advancing ever since that day. Atthis very momentthe Prussian Government 
is hatching two very dangerous projects, the one of limiting the free sub- 
division of real property, the other subjecting public instruction to the 
Church. They could not have selected two objects more appropriate to 
alienate the peasantry of Rhenish Prussia and the middle classes throughout 
the monarchy. As a curious incident, I may also mention the forced dis- 
solution of the Berlin Hygienic Society, (A Mutual Benefit Sick Club) in 
consequence of the "great discovery." This society was composed of nearly 
10,000 members, all belonging to the working classes. The Government, it 
appears, are convinced, that the present constitution of the Prussian State 
is incompatible with "hygienics." 

The London press, till now unconscious of the doings of the London 
police, are surprised by statements in the Vienna Presse and the Emancipa- 
tion, the leading reactionary journal of Belgium, that the police of London 
have drawn up a list of all the political refugees in that city, with a variety 
of details relating to their private circumstances and conduct. "Once such 
a system is tolerated with regard to foreigners," exclaims the Morning 
Advertiser, "it will be employed whenever deemed advisable by the Govern- 
ment, or any member of it, in order to become acquainted with the details 
of the private lives of our own countrymen ... Is it not saddening to think 
that the London police should be called upon to play the infamous part 
assigned to their continental colleagues?" Besides these statements in Bel- 
gian and other papers, the London press is this day informed by telegraphic 
dispatch from Vienna, "that the Refugee question is settled: the British 
Government has promised to keep a strict guard on the refugees, and to visit 
them with the full severity of the law whenever it should be proved that they 
have taken part in revolutionary intrigues." 

"Never before," remarks the Morning Advertiser, "did England appear 
in so humiliating a situation as she does now, in having prostrated herself 
to the feet of Austria. No degradation could equal this. It was reserved for 
the Coalition Cabinet." 

I learn from a very creditable source that the law officers of the Crown 
will institute a prosecution against Mazzini as soon as his sojourn at London 
shall be ascertained. On the other hand I hear that the Ministers will be 
interpellated in the House of Commons with regard to their scandalous 
transactions with Austria, and their intentions on the refugee question in 
general. 

I have stated in a former letter that Radetzky was glad to have been 
afforded, by the Milan insurrection, a pretext for "obtaining money under 

The Berlin Conspiracy—London Police—Mazzini—Radetzky 

false pretenses." This view of the matter has since been confirmed by an 
act notto be misunderstood. In a recent proclamation Radetzky has declared 
null and void all loans or mortgages contracted since 1847 on the security 
of the sequestrated estates ofthe Lombard emigrants. This confiscation can 
have no other possible excuse than the horror vacui of the Austrian ex- 
chequer. The sentimental bourgeoisie have everywhere sacrificed the revo- 
lution to their god called Property. The counter-revolution now repudiates 
that god. 

A sub-marine telegraphic dispatch of to-day brings the news that Prince 
Menchikoff has concluded a convention with the Porte, that the Russian 
armies have received orders to retire from the Turkish frontiers, and that 
the Eastern question is once more settled. 

Karl Marx.