preparing a triumphal reception on a large scale
for the people whom they described as the repre-
sentatives of genuine socialism. Demian Biedny
retorted in an extremely amusing poetic dialogue,
representing the Mensheviks rehearsing their parts
to be ready for the reception. Other Communists
went to work to prepare a retort of a different
kind. They arranged a house for the Berne dele-
gates to live in, but at the same time they pre-
pared to emphasize the difference between the two
Internationals by the calling of an anti-Berne con-
ference which should disclaim all connection with
that old International which they considered had
gone into political bankruptcy at the outbreak of
the European war.

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