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XVI.
Alliance de la Démocratie socialiste. (The Alliance of Socialist Democracy.)
Considering that the "Alliance de la démocratie socialiste" has declared itself dissolved (See letter to the General Council d.d. Geneva, 10th August 1871 signed by citizen N. Joukowsky, secretary to the "Alliance"),
That in its sitting of the 18th September (see N° II of this circular) the Conference has decided that all existing organisations of the International shall, in conformity with the letter and the spirit, of the general rules, henceforth designate and constitute themselves simply and exclusively as branches, sections, federations, etc., of the International Working Men's Association with the names of their respective localities attached;
That the existing branches and societies shall therefore no longer be allowed to designate themselves by sectarian names such as Positivists, Mutualists, Collectivists, Communists, etc., or to form separatist bodies under the names of sections of propaganda, Alliance de la Démocratie socialiste, etc., pretending to accomplish special missions distinct from the common purposes of the Association;
That henceforth the General Council of the International Working Men's Association will in this sense have to interpret and apply article 5 of the administrative resolutions of the Basel Congress: "The General Council has the right either to accept or to refuse the affiliation of any new section or group," etc.;
The Conference declares the question of the "Alliance de la Démocratie socialiste" to be settled.
XVII.
Split in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
1.—The different exceptions taken by the Federal Committee of the Mountain sections as to the competency of the Conference are declared inadmissible. (This is but a resumé of article 1 which will be printed in full in the Egalité of Geneva.)
2.—The Conference confirms the decision of the General Council of June 29th, 1870.
At the same time, in view of the persecutions which the International is at present undergoing, the Conference appeals to the feelings of fraternity and union which more than ever ought to animate the working class;
It invites the brave working men of the mountain sections to rejoin the sections of the Romand Federation;
In case such an amalgamation should prove impracticable it decides that the dissident mountain sections shall henceforth name themselves the "Jurassian Federation".
The Conference gives warning that henceforth the General Council will be bound to publicly denounce and disavow all organs of the International which, following the precedents of the Progrès and the Solidarité, should discuss in their columns, before the middle class public, questions exclusively reserved for the local or Federal committees and the General Council, or for the private and administrative sittings of the Federal or General Congresses.
