London, 4 May 1868 

Dear Frep, 

This morning I received enclosed letter and cutting from 
Schweitzer. Since he addresses himself to me as_ workers’ 
representative of one of the most industrial districts, I must 
naturally reply.* 

My view is that the Germans can stand a reduction of the 
protective tariff on pig iron and that the manufacturers of other 
articles are also exaggerating their howls. This view is based upon 
a comparison of the English and German exports to neutral 
markets. Enclosed, by way of example, a note on exports to 
Belgium.‘ 

At the same time, in my opinion, the point is to exploit this 
question in the interests of the party, without, however, procuring 
any new reliefs to the English. 

My proposal would therefore be: 

1. No reduction of tariffs before a parliamentary enquéte‘ into the 
state of the German iron-mining production and iron manufac- 
ture. This enquéte should not, however, be confined, as the 
bourgeois gentlemen desire, simply to chambers of commerce and 
‘experts’ but should, at the same time, include the workers’ 

a half-hearted - > reins - ¢ See the table on p. 27. - 4 enquiry 

Imports into Belgium for the years 1865, 1866, 1867 (year ended 31 December)? 

Kilogs 

Kilogs 

Iron, ore and filings 

Pig and old iron 

Iron rails, sheet, etc. 

Iron wire 

Steel, Bars, Sheets, Wire 

Steel wrought 

Metal wares of wrought iron 

Metal wares of cast iron 

Machines and machinery 

* To the heading Metal wares of cast iron should be added France: 1865—238,905; 1866—205,264; 1867—247,527. 

4 Marx gives the table in English. 

From Customs Union 
France 

Total 

From United Kingdom 
Total 

United Kingdom 
Holland 

Total 

From Customs Union 
United Kingdom 
France 

Total 

From United Kingdom 
Customs Union 

Total 

From United Kingdom 

Total 
Customs Union 
United Kingdom 

Total 
Customs Union 
*United Kingdom 

Total 
United Kingdom 
France 

1865 

161,496,808 
138,370,214 

24,864,110 
23,421,806 
1,555,576 
668,140 
312,984 

501,380 
32,631 
442,107 
26,979 

940,763 
256,138 
283,164 

290,715 
18,931 
37,853 

4,908,078 
3,081,942 
1,322,155 

1866 1867 
155,584,195 213,049,319 
130,382,679 96,761,074 

32,508,242 56,233,219 
28,450,976 50,722,330 
1,579,999 2,136,652 

698,984 1,008,674 

237,241 403,468 

710,335 1,108,038 

226,993 1,472,714 

445,265 350,064 

36,075 284,348 
4,320,429 2,484,240 
3,468,280 1,453,007 

697,295 905,108 

1,257,973 914,633 

761,234 548,396 

993,581 1,307,407 

305,909 385,148 

285,001 331,732 

274,784 385,325 

13,901 26,145 
45,239 59,946 
5,437,599 5,114,905 
3,888,891 2,859,729 
1,052,857 1,699,102 

B98 ARW PF ‘Sjasuy oO xIePy ‘ET 

LG 

28 14, Engels to Marx. 6 May 1868 

conditions in these branches; all the more so since Messrs 
manufacturers are ‘demanding’ the protective tariffs solely ‘for the 
protection’ of the workers, and have in addition discovered that 
‘the value of tron’ consists only ‘of wages and freight’. 

2. No reduction of tariffs before an enquéte into how the railways 
misuse their monopoly, and before their freight (and passenger) 
tariffs are controlled by legal regulations. 

I would like your view immediately, and also immediate return of 
the enclosures. 

Very nice that your home-town chamber of commerce should 
bemoan the growing power and menace of the International 
Working Men’s Association. 

Salut. 
Your 
K. M.