International Workers Congresses of Paris, 1889

At the possibilist congress, unity was first proposed by John Burns, and was opposed by Henry Hyndman and Adolphe Smith, who questioned whether the Marxist delegates really represented workers' organizations or simply themselves.

When Burns insisted upon unity, Hyndman countered that such a proposal could only be considered upon the "verification of mandates," or proof that the Marxists represented real parties.

While Burns and Amilcare Cipriani advocated for unconditional unity, the majority of the congress came to agree with Hyndman after an impassioned speech from Annie Besant, who repudiated accusations that the appeal for verification was made in bad faith, and argued that only "bona fide" parties should be represented.

Wilhelm Liebknecht ultimately put forward a motion that unity would be accepted, but only on an unconditional basis, which was passed with a large majority.

[5] The International Socialist Workers Congress of Paris was scheduled to meet at the Salle Petrelle, but soon had to move to larger accommodations at 42, rue Rochechouart.

The initial reception was held at the music hall, the Fantaisies Parisiennes, wherein a high platform and rows of boxes had been erected to evoke the image of the National Assembly of 1793.

When these broad proposals were objected to, there was often very little tolerance of dissent, such as when the anarchist Francesco Saverio Merlino was nearly attacked by other delegates, only to be shielded by members of the Socialist League.

In one incident a boulangist delegate was accused of disrupting the proceedings and threatened with expulsion, but was allowed to stay after a speech on tolerance by a Mr.