In the affair of our collective declaration, it is indeed a question of the existence of several attentive people (they obviously do not form what one calls a public, but they know us quite directly), who would find themselves reassured – or deceived – by everything that could be interpreted as a concession on our part.[1] I know well that there is no veritable ambiguity between us but perhaps this is clearer to those who have participated in our conversations. Finally, one might reprint the declaration in issue #8,[2] restructured if you have the time or as it is. If you like, we can consider the matter closed.
Eternal question: when do you want the texts by? This time, as I’ve told you, we will send to you articles that are clearly more diverse and that clarify each other.[3] (And, I think, will be in relation to your suite of “Great Works.”)
Furthermore, I propose that you continue the rubric of “Prehistory of Leisure Activities,” for which we have two long, very interesting quotations. If you do not have other texts for this rubric, ours might suffice, along with a word of introduction that we will draft.
I believe that Soleil and Minotaure[4] will pay out today. As for the reproduction of the image by Hersent,[5] you will have to wait a few days. But count on it.
I hope that the printing of the tract on oil painting[6] is going well.
Quite amicably,P.S. Please note my new address.[7] The change takes effect immediately.[8]
[1] Translator: those excluded from the Lettrist International for backsliding, flexibility, etc.
[2] Published in [Les Levres nues] #9.
[3] “Theory of the Derive,” “Two Accounts of A Derive” and “I Write Properly (Detourned Narrative).” [These texts were written by Guy Debord and Gil J Wolman, together or separately.]
[4] Translator: bookstores in Paris that had been selling copes of Les Levres nues.
[5] Louis Hersent (1777-1860), a French painter, student of David, author of The Metamorphosis of Narcissus.
[6] Translator: entitled Toutes ces dames au salon! (“All ladies to the salon!”), this tract denounced an international exhibition of painters entitled “The Petroleum Industry Seen By Artists,” sponsored by Royal Dutch Shell, and held between 2 and 14 June 1956. The tract was signed by both the Lettrist International and Les Levres nues. Note Debord’s pun: oil painting about the oil industry.
[7] Translator: deleted.
[8] Written by hand by Michele Bernstein.
(Published in Guy Debord Correspondance, Vol "0": Septembre 1951 - Juillet 1957: Complete des "lettres retrouvees" et d l'index general des noms cites by Librairie Artheme Fayard, October 2010. Translated from the French by NOT BORED! March 2011. Footnotes by the publisher, except where noted.)