"Les Allemands sont sous Paris": George Clemenceau's journalism at the beginnig of the World War I

Clemenceau, Georges, French statesman (1841-1929). "Jusqu'au bout". Autograph manuscript and page proofs with autograph corrections.

N. p. o. d. [Paris, 2. or 3. IX. 1914].

4to. 4 pp. and 3 pp.

 3.000,00

Highly interesting editorial for his daily newspaper "L'Homme libre" from a critical moment during the German offensive in France. The first sentence of the article leaves the reader no doubt about the imminent danger: "The Germans are below Paris". A note in pencil by Clemenceau to the upper left margin of the first page of the proofs informs us that he, along with the French government, left Paris for Bordeaux on 3rd September 1914 in face of the threat to the capital. Clemenceau fears a long siege of Paris and frequent interruptions of communication that will necessitate for the French province to reach "autonomy of government and of defense". Otherwise, "all directionality of the French forces will be annihilated". Clemenceau calls for the people to rally behind the government, fearing the grave consequences of a loss of "control over the public opinion". In return, he expects the government to trust the French people "enough to always tell us the truth", citing an example to the contrary of an untruthful communique about the Northern Front. In Clemenceau's opinion, only the harsh truth will maintain the trust and élan of the French people that is necessary for successful mobilization. In the second part of the article, Clemenceau returns to the "facts of war", discussing the French strategy during the German offensive: "This means, if I understand it correctly, that we left the path to Paris open, while flanking the enemy from two sides. If the fortifications fulfill their duty vigorously, the maneuver could be fortunate. From what we have seen from him until now, general Joffre adheres to the school of the delayers. In the current circumstances, there is probably no better tactic." In this vein, Clemenceau speculates about possible consequences of Russian advances on the Eastern Front for Germany and the Western Theater.

The editorial was published on 3 September 1914, two days before the start of the First Battle of the Marne that would mark the failure of the Schlieffen Plan and eliminate the imminent threat to Paris. Clemenceau's criticism of the communication strategy of the government of Prime Minister René Viviani was probably already connected to attempts at censorship of his own journal, culminating in its suppression between 29 September and 7 October 1914. From 8 October 1914, Clemenceau could publish his newspaper under the new name "L'Homme enchaîné". Three years later, Georges Clemenceau himself would lead the country during the final phase of the war and the negotiations in Versailles.

The manuscript on the reverse of stationery of the French Senate.

Somewhat stained and fingerprints over all. Two of the manuscript pages cut in two pieces between paragraphs. The print proofs with occasional small tears to the margins.

Art.-Nr.: BN#31476 Schlagwort: