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Operations in the French Section After October 1969
15 October 1969
Translated by Reuben Keehan
1
IN ORDER TO raise the French Section to the level of consistency demonstrated by the other sections in Venice, it is not enough to proscribe — and sanction, cf. Alain [Chevalier] — all the eventual consequences of the apathy that set in between January and June. This apathy has itself only been able to exist as a result of a more profound deficiency.
2
IN OTHER SECTIONS, not only is there more equal involvement in debates and writing, but there is more real interest in our theory and its uses: there is more personal activity, more reading, more ideas. The French appear to be resting on their old historical laurels, and not just those of 1968: they seem to go almost all the way back to 1957. Hardly anyone has bothered to educate themselves at all. Not one new idea has been formulated in the meetings of this period (while times have certainly changed). This lack of inertia must be pulled out by the roots, with as many exclusions as necessary. It is safe to say that 3 situs with a good working relationship would constitute a better and more efficient section than 7 or 8 with little in common but their boredom.
3
EACH MEETING (currently scheduled for every 15 days) should become a sort of "Conference" for the section (executed quickly and efficiently) where everyone contributes, raising at least one general problem each. It seems inevitable that meetings should last longer than they have previously, with two sessions: one in the afternoon, the other in the evening. (And if the problems cannot be dealt with, we will automatically regroup the following day.) A meeting that lasts around four hours is not long enough, and can't really be said to be dominated by any new developments: run-of-the-mill issues can be dealt with beforehand by one or two comrades.
4
FROM NOVEMBER, everyone should be in Paris just about all the time, in order to participate in every meeting, regardless of length, and to participate in all the work and minor consultations that have been agreed upon during the meetings by the comrades concerned. As a general rule, the SI must no longer be told that an outside obligation prevents a certain member from being present at a scheduled meeting; outside obligations must be told that a more pressing obligation prevents any other engagement on these dates.
5
IF ANYONE IS late or absent from an engagement, and if the majority of the section does not find this excusable due to particular circumstances, this indiscretion will be formally recorded. If it is repeated, exclusion will be automatic.
6
IN ORDER TO begin on these foundations, it seems useful that each member should compose a few precise notes (10 to 40 lines) as soon as possible, on their impressions of the Venice conference: its general significance, where it leads us, and the principal desirable points of our next activity. Apart from these initial minimum requirements, it is obvious that one can never raise enough theoretical and practical questions (by writing if possible, but preferably not in a mannered style).
Unanimously adopted on 15 October 1969, with comrades Cheval and Vaneigem excused as absent.
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