We have made a rough translation of "Technique of the coup du monde."[1] We find it to be very good. We will write you very soon regarding a dozen words that Michele [Bernstein] isn't sure of having understood well.
On the theoretical plane, I believe that it is only necessary to make precise a single point (because we envision it in another article on the same issue of the [situationists'] journal): it is that the intelligentsia in revolt can only completely win its battle by in the end obtaining the disappearance of the separation between those who are actually artists and the mass of the non-creative population. This can be expressed in detourning an old formula of Marx, under this form: the party of the intelligentsia must be a party "of which the triumph signifies loss" (this is the contrary of what has finally been made by the political bureaucracy formed by professional revolutionaries). I think that this isn't contrary to your theses. Michele's publisher (Correa) has accepted Young Adam[2] and has already signed a contract with the English publisher. There is now a question posed for us: do you know a translator capable of doing this well -- better than Aanda Golem?[3] We think that it is imprudent to let the publisher choose the translator. He is of good will, because he has proposed that Michele do the translation,[4] but she isn't capable of doing it. If you have a friend who can do this, I can revise the translation with him [or her], and this would be better. If you don't know anyone, we can find someone; write us a response quickly.
The date of the next conference of the S[ituationist] I[nternational] FOR WHICH IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THAT YOU ARRIVE ON TIME is the following: Sunday 11 November [1962], starting at 8 pm, at the Cafe Tienpont, Paardenmarkt 2, Antwerp.
Afterwards, the conference will take place at the hall of the Zigeurnerkelder, Stadswaag, Antwerp, on the following four days. But arrive on Sunday.
I also give you a telephone number in Brussels at which you can call on Sunday if you have some kind of itinerary complication: 74 24 68, which is [Raoul] Vaneigem's number.
See you soon. Regards to Lyn[5] and you.
Guy[1] I[nternationale] S[ituationniste] #8, p. 48.
[2] Le Jeune Adam, published 2 January 1964.
[3] The translator of Cain's Book.
[4] Bernard Willerval would eventually do it.
[5] Companion of Trocchi, to whom Cain's Book was dedicated.
(Published in Guy Debord, Correspondance, Volume 2, 1960-1964. Footnotes by Alice Debord. Translated from the French by NOT BORED! May 2005.)