[Chtcheglov, Ivan] Gilles Ivain. [Resignation Letter] J’ai remis aujourd’hui... Paris, 21 June 1964. 13.5 x 21 cm.; black ink on cream stock.

This is Gilles Ivain (Ivan Chtcheglov’s) original resignation letter from the Internationale Lettriste, hand signed by its author. The letter is addressed to Mohamed Dahou, who was then editor-in-chief of the epnymous periodical Internationale Lettriste. While the resignation occurred just one day before the publication of the first issue of Potlatch (released June 22), it was announced in the second issue — where it was presented as an exclusion (released June 29). The reasons given were “Mythomanie, délire d’interprétation –manque de conscience révolutionnaire” (Mythomania, interpretative delirium, lack of revolutionary consciousness).

So where does the truth lie? In Ivan Chtcheglov: Profil perdu (Paris: Allia, 2006), scholars Jean-Marie Apostolides and Borris Donné explain that, while there had been growing tension between Debord and Chtcheglov, it was Chtcheglov who walked away. On the occasion of Avant la Guerre, the first exhibition of Internationale Lettriste that opened on June 11, 1954 (see https://situationnisteblog.com/2021/10/06/avant-la-guerre-66-metagraphies-influentielles-1954/), a promotional leaflet was produced. Against Chtcheglov’s wish, Debord had featured the heavily political slogan “Ce qui nous importe, c’est la prise du pouvoir” (what matters to us is taking power). A few days later, in the backroom of the bar Tonneau d’Or, Chtcheglov claims that, following an argument with Debord, he simply left the group.

[Chtcheglov, Ivan] Gilles Ivain. Information.. n.p. [Paris], June 1954. 13.5 x 21 cm.; black ink on cream stock.

Small typed leaflet penned by Gilles Ivain that announces what he describes as a split in the Lettrist group: “Je juge l’actuel comportement lettriste de Conord comme vicieux, conséquence de son refoulement et de ses ancielUles humiliations. Comment adopter le parti de l’Internationale? Mon choix a toujours été fait sur les individus en bonne santé. La vieille histoire des CORPS ne manquera pas de revenir hanter André-Frank. L’Internationale lettriste n’est plus par moments pour Guy Debord qu’un moyen de supprimer ce sur quoi il ne “règne” pas. La Terreur ne peut rien contre la médecine. La gnose se vit plus qu’elle ne s’explique. Les procès seront mythologiques ou ne seront pas…” (p.1). The leaflet was mailed to members of the Lettrist International. It is reproduced in Ivan Chtcheglov: Profil perdu, p.68. We locate no OCLC copies.

Together, the resignation letter and leaflet give credence to Chtcheglov’s claim that he resigned from the Lettrist International, against Debord’s narrative (and official historiography) of an exclusion. As such, these are rare and important mementos of pre-Situationist History.