30. K. Marx. To the Editor of La Liberie
London, March 12, 1872
Dear Sir,
In the book by Citizen G. Lefrançais, Sur le mouvement com-munaliste, which only came to my attention a few days ago, I find on page 92 the following passage:
"The letter subsequently written to Citizen Serraillier by Karl Marx, the principal inspirer of the German section of the International, on the subject of the elections of February 8, in which he criticises with some bitterness the intervention of the French section in these elections, is sufficient evidence that rightly or wrongly the International was then reluctant to become involved in active politics."
Immediately after the publication of my alleged letter to Serraillier I declared in The Times, the Courrier de l'Europe, the
Zukunft of Berlin, etc., that this letter was a fabrication of the Paris-Journal?[2] From his part, Serraillier publicly denounced the police journalist who was the true author of this letter. Since almost all the organs of the International and even some Parisian newspapers have taken note of our statements, I am really astonished to see Citizen Lefrançais publicly endorse the falsehood circulated by Henri de Pêne.
Yours faithfully,
Karl Marx
Endnotes
[2] The Geneva Congress resolution, cited below, on the statistical inquiry into the situation of the working classes reproduced almost word for word the relevant passages in the "Instructions for the Delegates of the Provisional General Council. The Different Questions" written by Marx on the eve of the Congress (see present edition, Vol. 20, p. 186).