 Under pressure of the mass working-class movement the laws were repealed on 1 October 1890.In August 1878, Russian Tsar Alexander II, William's nephew, wrote a letter (known as "Ohrfeigenbrief") to him complaining about the treatment Russian interests had received at the Congress of Berlin.In response William, his wife Augusta, and his son the crown prince travelled to Russia (against the advice of Bismarck) to mend fences in face-to-face talks.