| 18 Avril, 1870.

Dear  Paul und Laura zusammen gemeint (vgl. MEW 32 (1965), S. 810 Anm. 698: „Paul-Laurent ist das literarische Pseudonym Paul Lafargues. Marx gebraucht es als Anrede für Paul und Laura, da es sich aus den Vornamen beider zusammensetzt.“
Schließen Paul-Laurent,

 Auf Empfehlung von Lafargue und Marx erteilte der Generalrat Henri Verlet am 12. April 1870 eine Vollmacht als Korrespondent der IAA (siehe Meeting of the General Council April 12, 1870. In: MEGA2 I/21. S. 764/765). Die Beilage ist nicht überliefert.
Schließen I send enclosed the credentials for M. H. Verlet . Let him give to the new section he is about to establish no sectarian “name”, either Communistic or other. Il faut éviter les «étiquettes» sectaires dans l’Association Internationale. The general aspirations and tendencies of the Working class emanate from the real conditions in which it finds itself placed. They are therefore common to the whole class although the movement reflects itself in their heads in the most diversified forms, more or less phantastical, more or less adequate. Those who interpret best the hidden sense of the class struggle going on before our eyes — the Communists are the last to commit the blunder of affecting or fostering Sectarianism.

Mr. Verlet would do well to put himself in communication with our friend Jules Johannard, 126, rue d’Aboukir.

One thing which ought to be done as quickly as possible, and which might be done by Paul-Laurent, is to publish in the Libre Pensée a true and literal translation of the International Statutes . The French current translation, emanating from our first Paris Committee, Tolain et Co., is full of intentional mistakes. They suppressed everything which they did not like. If a true translation was made, it would be well to send it me before its publication.

In Germany people would much wonder at  Gemeint ist Henri Verlets Artikel „Force et matière" in „La Libre Pensée" vom 16. April 1870 über Ludwig Büchners Buch „Kraft und Stoff", das 1869 in zehnter Auflage in Leipzig erschienen war. Siehe MEW 32 (1965). S. 811 Anm. 701.
Schließen Verlet’s appreciation of Büchner . In our country he is only considered, and justly so, as a vulgarisateur.

You know how much I admire le „Roman de Conspiration“. I was therefore, truly delighted to see  Gemeint ist Paul Lafargues Artikel über A. Rancs Buch „Le roman d'une conspiration“ in „La Libre Pensée" vom 16. April 1870. Siehe Siehe MEW 32 (1965). S. 811 Anm. 702.
Schließen it so well appreciated by Paul-Laurent.

I am now forced to say a few words which Paul-Laurent will a little fret at, but I cannot help doing so.

 Nicht überlieferter Brief von François Lafargue an Marx, zw. 17./18.9. und 7.10.1869. — Zu Marx Aufenthalt in Hannover siehe L. Kugelmann an Engels, 13.7.1869 und L. Kugelmann an Marx, 17.7.1869. Marx reiste von Anfang September bis 11. Oktober nach Deutschland, wo er auf der Hinreise u. a. Karl Philips in Aachen, Paul Stumpf in Mainz, Joseph Dietzgen in Siegburg besuchte, und am 17. oder 18. September in Hannover bei Kugelmanns eintraf. Etwa am 7. Oktober erfolgte die Rückreise nach London über Hamburg, um seinen Verleger Otto Meißner zu treffen. Siehe Marx an Engels, 25.9.1869 und Marx Chronik (1934).
Schließen Your father wrote me a letter to Hannover which I have not yet answered, because I did not know what to say.

I feel quite sure that Paul has discarded all notion of finishing, or occupying himself with, his medical studies. When at Paris I | wrote to his father in a different sense, and I was warranted in doing so by Paul’s own promises. Thus I am placed in quite a false position towards M. Lafargue aîné. I cannot remain in that fix. I see no other prospect of getting out of it but by writing to him that I have as little influence with his beloved son as himself. If you see any other way of escape for me, any other means of clearing my position, please communicate it to me.

In my opinion, which however I neither pretend nor hope to see accepted and acted upon, Paul-Laurent cum filio ought to pay a visit to their   Ana Virginia und François Lafargue.
Schließen parents at Bordeaux and try to coax them by the many means personal intercourse permits of.

Yours truly
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