[Draft] 
London, 24 October 1892 
My dear Bonnier, 

In Le Figaro Guesde says: 

‘Just as Liebknecht stated that, in the case of aggression by France, he would be obliged 
to remember that he is German, we would remind the workers’ party, in the case of German 
aggression, that we are French’. 

Thus Guesde and myself are in perfect agreement, and it is with him that 
you should settle matters. 

You speak of an unfortunate phrase by Bebel—which one? You reproach 
him with so many! If it is the one in Figaro that he would fire at Guesde, it 
belongs to M. Huret; Bebel writes that it existed only in this gentleman’s 
fantasy. 

You talk of preventing war, and you boast of having voted for Domela **— 
with his plan you would crush all the socialist parties in Europe. 

It is all very fine to speak of preventing a war, from whichever side it 
might come. But why allow yourself to believe in illusions. Do the French 
socialists have some means of preventing the young William* from declaring 
war in a moment of madness? Can the German socialists forbid Carnot or 
some patriotic ministry to commit a similar folly? Furthermore, if it were 
William or the street-corner revanchists who were the real danger; it is the 
Russian government which is pulling the strings of these puppets, these by 
hopes, those by fears. So now prevent it from inciting war! 

If war breaks out, those who are defeated will have the opportunity and 
the duty to bring about a revolution—and that’s that.