Letter to Pablo Iglesias, April 1893

Author(s) Friedrich Engels
Written 31 March 1893


First published in: Marx and Engels, Works, First Russian Edition, Vol. XXIX, Moscow, 1946
Printed according to the original. Translated from the Spanish
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 50

ENGELS TO PABLO IGLESIAS

IN MADRID [Draft]

London, April 1893[1]

Dear friend Iglesias,

I cannot answer your letter without first complaining of your addressing me formally with usted. I don't think I have deserved this. We are old members of the International and have been fighting side by side, for over twenty years in the same battles. When I was your Secretary for Spain, your people did me the honour of addressing me informally with tu,[2] and so I ask you to go on in the same way.

Enclosed herewith are a few lines[3] for your May issue,[4] I have written to Eleanor Marx-Aveling and to Bebel, asking them to contribute their share.

Regards and revolution,

Yours

  1. 31 March
  2. an equivalent of French vous and tu
  3. F. Engels, 'To the Spanish Workers—on the First of May 1893'.
  4. El Socialista