We have realized that we haven't had news from you for quite a long time; that you still haven't done any real work with us; and that, nevertheless, you do not hesitate to mention your collaboration with the Situationist International concerning your "quiet" exposition in Milan.
We find you quite sympathetic, it is true, but you must know that it isn't our habit to prolong (for a long time) negligence in certain affairs in which you have chosen, as we have, to be involved.
We thus take steps towards dissipating the equivocal:
In case you would still like to participate in what we do, it will suffice for you to send us, by the end of March [1958]:
1) The text[1] intended for our journal, which is at the printer.[2]
2) A satisfactory report on your activities in the last few months.
After 31 March, it will be useless: the journal will indicate precisely the participants in our action.[3]
Cordially,Three copies of this letter will be sent in care of Alloway:[4] 1075 Dorso Duro, Castello, 5139.
[1] Psychogeographical Venice.
[2] Translator: Internationale Situationniste #1 was published June 1958.
[3] Translator: Ralph Rumney was excluded on 4 April 1958. See "Venice has vanguished Ralph Rumney," Internationale Situationniste #1.
[4] Lawrence Alloway, director of the ICA [Institute for Contemporary Arts] from 1955 to 1960, an art historian and critic, inventor of the phrase "pop art."
(Published in Guy Debord, Correspondance, Volume 1, 1957-1960. Footnotes by Alice Debord, except where noted. Translated from the French by NOT BORED! October 2005.)