Jaurès assassiné!
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:38 am
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In Paris, August 31 1914, the leading anti-war figure in France- Jean Jaurès, is assassinated at the Café du Croissant (146 rue Monmartre) while eating with members of his newspaper editorial staff and preparing a final push for avoiding war through international mediation. At the same time, the British were pushing a call, supported by France and Russia, for a resolution of the Serbian crisis through international mediation, and the Second International of workers parties was meeting in Brussels to try to organize a coordinated response by the various national workers parties to pressure their respective governments to avoid war.
Of course, Germany and Austria-Hungry never accept the arbitration plan, the Second International breaks apart as each socialist party supports its country's war effort, and three days later France is at war. Given the timing, Jaurès's assassination has taken on the aura, especially after the war, of the death of Peace making War possible.
Now this thread could go in lots of directions. Had Jaurès lived, would war have been avoided? (I say clearly no, and Jaurès would likely have supported the "Union Sacrée" with the rest of the French left.) Why did the workers of the world not unite after all? (ie the failure of the Second International).
But really, I just wanted put a word up on the 100th, and encourage folks to swing by the Café du Croissant if they ever wander through Paris.
Vivre la paix
In Paris, August 31 1914, the leading anti-war figure in France- Jean Jaurès, is assassinated at the Café du Croissant (146 rue Monmartre) while eating with members of his newspaper editorial staff and preparing a final push for avoiding war through international mediation. At the same time, the British were pushing a call, supported by France and Russia, for a resolution of the Serbian crisis through international mediation, and the Second International of workers parties was meeting in Brussels to try to organize a coordinated response by the various national workers parties to pressure their respective governments to avoid war.
Of course, Germany and Austria-Hungry never accept the arbitration plan, the Second International breaks apart as each socialist party supports its country's war effort, and three days later France is at war. Given the timing, Jaurès's assassination has taken on the aura, especially after the war, of the death of Peace making War possible.
Now this thread could go in lots of directions. Had Jaurès lived, would war have been avoided? (I say clearly no, and Jaurès would likely have supported the "Union Sacrée" with the rest of the French left.) Why did the workers of the world not unite after all? (ie the failure of the Second International).
But really, I just wanted put a word up on the 100th, and encourage folks to swing by the Café du Croissant if they ever wander through Paris.
Vivre la paix