Joseph Paul-Boncour

August 4, 1873 (age 98)

Saint-Aignan, Loir-et-Cher, canton of Saint-Aignan, France

Born in Saint-Aignan, Loir-et-Cher, Paul-Boncour received a law degree from the University of Paris and became active in the labor movement, organizing the legal council of the Bourses du Travail (workers" associations). He was private secretary to Premier Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau from 1898 to 1902. Elected to the Chamber of Deputies as a Radical in 1909, he held his seat until 1914, briefly serving as Minister of Labour from March to June 1911. After serving in the military during World War I, he returned to the French National Assembly. Also in 1931, Paul-Boncour was elected to the Senate, and served in that capacity until the establishment of the Vichy régime in 1940 (during World World War II). During his time as a Senator, Paul-Boncour served in a variety of cabinet and diplomatic posts. He was the Permanent Delegate to the League of Nations from 1932 to 1936, Minister of War in 1932, Premier from December 1932 to January 1933, and Foreign Minister on three separate occasions (December 1932 to January 1934, January to June 1936, and March 1938). Paul-Boncour was opposed to the formation of the Vichy government, and recommended continuing the fight against Nazi Germany after the fall of France, from Algiers. He once again served as a senator from 1946 to 1948. He died in Paris in March 1972. Joseph Paul-Boncour – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs Édouard Daladier – Minister of War Camille Chautemps – Minister of the Interior Henri Chéron – Minister of Finance Albert Dalimier – Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions Abel Gardey – Minister of Justice Georges Leygues – Minister of Marine Léon Meyer – Minister of Merchant Marine Paul Painlevé – Minister of Air Anatole de Monzie – Minister of National Education Edmond Miellet – Minister of Pensions Henri Queuille – Minister of Agriculture Albert Sarraut – Minister of Colonies Georges Bonnet – Minister of Public Works Charles Daniélou – Minister of Public Health Laurent Eynac – Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones Julien Durand – Minister of Commerce and Industry.

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Recollections of the Third Republic

(Now in stock for $40.00! Recollections of the Third Repub...)

Now in stock for $40.00! Recollections of the Third Republic is by Joseph Paul-Boncour (1873-1972) was an eminent statesman of the French Third Republic, who in 1945 led the French delegation to the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco and signed the United Nations Charter on behalf of France. Recollections of the Third Republis is a classic book that, as the Journal of Modern History described the book in its review: "...brings to life the crucial years of the Third Republic ...this volume demonstrates that an understanding of the development and working of the French government can be best gained from the recollections of the past." This book follows with a sensitive eye the recovery of France after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War amidst the myriad of personalities, including the tragi-comic General Boulanger; the prematurely removed Premier Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau, to whom Paul-Boncour was private secretary; the almost legendary French pacifist martyr Jean Jaures; and the "tiger" of World War I, Premier Georges Clemenceau. During World War I Paul-Boncour assisted General Joseph Gallieni in performing his role as the "Savior of Paris," fighting on the front in Lorraine, witnessing the arrival of the Americans who turned the tide, and the feeling of all Frenchmen at the Armistice on November 11, 1918 - all of these Paul-Boncour writes about with a rarely found emotion and beauty. The New York Times commented about this book that it "...may be read with much pleasure and no little profit," and the St. Louis Post Dispatch said that this book "deserves to be read... M. Paul-Boncour does his readers a service." France-Amerique said that this book is ",,,exciting...enlightens our knowledge...from this important book one can learn much." Foreign Affairs review of this book that it is "filled with facts on French and European politics," and these facts make Recollections of the Third Republic a classic book illustrating that the continuities in history provide an extremely important element for understanding contemporary affairs Library Journal recommends that "everyone who is interested in modern European history will benefit from Paul-Boncour's first-hand testimony. Joseph Paul-Boncour served in many French cabinet, legislative, and diplomatic positions. He was Premier of France (1932-1933) and Permanent French Delegate to the League of Nations (1932-1936), Minister of Labour (911), Minister of War (1932), and three times Minister of Foreign Affairs (1932-1934, 1936, and 1938). Paul-Boncour was opposed to the Vichy government and continued the fight against Nazi Germany after the fall of France in 1940. He last served as a Senator from 1946-1948 and then became a most highly respected French and European elder statesman until his death in 1957. France is America's oldest Ally, and Joseph Paul-Boncour personifies a true French friend of America. In his own words from the book (page 11): "...may our American friends be fortified in the resolution...to build together, resolutely, a better society and a Peace for which we have struggled and suffered together."

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Career

Born in Saint-Aignan, Loir-et-Cher, Paul-Boncour received a law degree from the University of Paris and became active in the labor movement, organizing the legal council of the Bourses du Travail (workers" associations). He was private secretary to Premier Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau from 1898 to 1902. Elected to the Chamber of Deputies as a Radical in 1909, he held his seat until 1914, briefly serving as Minister of Labour from March to June 1911.

After serving in the military during World War I, he returned to the French National Assembly.

Also in 1931, Paul-Boncour was elected to the Senate, and served in that capacity until the establishment of the Vichy régime in 1940 (during World World War II). During his time as a Senator, Paul-Boncour served in a variety of cabinet and diplomatic posts.

He was the Permanent Delegate to the League of Nations from 1932 to 1936, Minister of War in 1932, Premier from December 1932 to January 1933, and Foreign Minister on three separate occasions (December 1932 to January 1934, January to June 1936, and March 1938). Paul-Boncour was opposed to the formation of the Vichy government, and recommended continuing the fight against Nazi Germany after the fall of France, from Algiers.

He once again served as a senator from 1946 to 1948.

He died in Paris in March 1972. Joseph Paul-Boncour – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs

Édouard Daladier – Minister of War

Camille Chautemps – Minister of the Interior

Henri Chéron – Minister of Finance

Albert Dalimier – Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions

Abel Gardey – Minister of Justice

Georges Leygues – Minister of Marine

Léon Meyer – Minister of Merchant Marine

Paul Painlevé – Minister of Air

Anatole de Monzie – Minister of National Education

Edmond Miellet – Minister of Pensions

Henri Queuille – Minister of Agriculture

Albert Sarraut – Minister of Colonies

Georges Bonnet – Minister of Public Works

Charles Daniélou – Minister of Public Health

Laurent Eynac – Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones

Julien Durand – Minister of Commerce and Industry.

Works

Recollections of the Third Republic Recollections of the Third Republic

book
- Recollections of the Third Republic
  (Now in stock for $40.00! Recollections of the Third Repub...)

Politics

Turning to Socialism, he joined the SFIO in 1916, but resigned in 1931 to join the Republican-Socialist Party (PRS), which in 1935 merged with the French Socialist Party (PSF) and the Socialist Party of France-Jean Jaurès Union PSdF) to form the Socialist Republican Union (USR).

Membership

As a member of the Consultative Assembly from 1944, he led the French delegation to the United Nations conference in San Francisco and signed the United Nations Charter on behalf of France.

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