Resolution of the General Council Expelling Gustave Durand from the International Working Men's Association

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The question of Gustave Durand was considered at a special meeting of the General Council on October 7, 1871, at which Durand’s correspondence with the French police officers was produced. Durand was instructed to participate in the London Conference of the International with espionage as an ulterior motive and also to become a member of the General Council. The resolution on Durand’s expulsion was drawn up and submitted to the meeting by Engels. He also translated it into French and Italian.

The General Council having received full evidence that Gustave Durand, working jeweller of Paris, ex-delegate of the jewellers to the Federal Chamber of Paris Working Men,[1] ex-chief of Battalion of the National Guards, ex-chief cashier at the Delegation of Finance under the Commune, passing as a refugee in London, has served, and is now serving, as a spy for the French police upon the Communal refugees and especially upon the General Council of the International Working Men’s Association, and has already received 725 francs for his services.

The said Gustave Durand is therefore branded as infamous[2] and expelled from the International Association.

This resolution to be published in all the organs of the International.

  1. The Federal Chamber of Working Men's Societies—an association of trade unions and other workers' societies in Paris—was formed on the International's initiative in 1869. The Chamber organised aid for workers on strike and maintained close ties with the International.
  2. Der Volksstaat has "a traitor" instead of "infamous".— Ed.