London, 2 January 1872* 

Dear Liebknecht, 

First of all, Happy New Year, and then the proofs? en- 
closed. 

Marx or Tussy will have written to you about the Stieberian 
escapade in the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung“ It was so transparent 
that no correspondence was needed to convince you of the 
deception; the cost of a telegram would have been money thrown 
away. You did right to denounce the thing as a forgery at once. 
Compare the names, most of which are false, with the correct ones 
under the Conference resolutions and you will have direct proof 
of the forgery.“ 

Marx still has your letter,*” so I cannot answer it point by point. 

At all events, you have to find a form that will make it possible 
for you to be represented at the next congress, and if no one can 
come, you could have yourselves represented by the old guard 
here. Since in all probability the Bakuninists and Proudhonists will 
leave no stone unturned, the credentials will be closely scrutinised 
and being delegated, for instance, by Bebel and yourself personally, 
as was the case with the conference credentials sent to me,” 
would not make a good impression. The Spaniards are in as bad a 
position as you but have not let themselves be side-tracked. 
Incidentally, the decision of the court in Brunswick does not set a 
precedent. 83 A downright disgrace like that, where even the laws 
of the Federal Diet*” can be dragged in, could only happen in a 

a The original mistakenly has ‘1871’. - > K. Marx, General Rules and Administrative 
Regulations of the International Working Men’s Association (German edition). - © See this 
volume, p. 571. 

decadent small state. Bebel ought to protest against it in the 
Reichstag; the men of Progress would either have to 
support him or stand compromised before the whole of Germany. 
If I can find the time I shall send a (legal) critique of this 
pettifogging judgment to the Volksstaat.** 

In Spain, according to a report from Lafargue (who is or was in 
Madrid), things are going well—the Bakuninists have overshot the 
mark with the violence of their manner. The Spaniards are 
workers and want unity and organisation above all else. You | will 
have received the last circular of the congress in Sonvillier,*” in 
which they attack the Basle administrative resolutions as the source 
of all evil.° That is really the last straw and we shall now take 
action. 

In the meantime, Hins, Steens and Co., in Belgium, have played 
us a fine trick (see the resolution of the Brussels Congress in 
L’Internationale*). De Paepe shamefully let them make a fool of 
him; he wrote that all was well. However, up to now this 
opposition has kept itself within the bounds of legality and will 
likewise be dealt with when the time is ripe. Apart from De Paepe, 
the Belgians were never anything much. 

A society in Macerata, in the Romagna, has nominated as its 
3 honorary presidents: Garibaldi, Marx and Mazzini. This confu- 
sion will show you very clearly the state of public opinion among 
the Italian workers. Only Bakunin’s name is needed and the mess 
is complete. 

Cuttings from The Eastern Post (2 meetings)* to follow tomor- 
row; I do not have the last issue anymore and shall only get a copy 
at today’s meeting. 

Best wishes to yours and to Bebel. 

Your 
F. E. 

Notabene. Have you changed your address? Braustrasse 11?