Georges Clemenceau | Series of 81 letters to Admiral Frederick Maxse, 1882-99

Georges Clemenceau

Important series of eighty-one autograph letters signed, to Admiral Frederick Maxse, his friend, political ally, and keen Francophile,

containing free and wide-ranging discussion of matters of national and international politics ranging from the Dreyfus Affair to the Anglo-Boer War, in French (one letter in English), c. 250 pages, 8vo and visiting cards, one letter incomplete, headed stationery of the Chambre des Deputes, La Justice and L'Aurore, many letters with envelopes, 15 December 1882 to 25 December 1899

"…Je n'ai pas le droit de me soustraire aux obligations de la politique…"

Georges Clemenceau, who was a leading radical politician and journalist at the time of this correspondence, had a close friendship with Admiral Frederick Maxse (1833-1900). Maxse had been radicalised by his experiences in the Crimean War, becoming a freethinking radical with a contempt for Britain’s aristocratic elite. The two men first met in 1872 in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War: Maxse had been a wholehearted supporter of France throughout the conflict and was, like Clemenceau, disgusted at the violent suppression of the Paris Commune. The men shared a belief in the necessity of a strong Franco-British alliance against Germany. Clemenceau acknowledges Maxse’s support of the French cause ("…les républicains français vous ont toujours considéré comme un ami de la Justice et de la Vérité…") despite the deep-seated distrust of France in Britain, and "imbeciles who think they honour Britain by insulting France".

The Dreyfus Affair dominated French politics for much of the period covered by these letters. Clemenceau was an important Dreyfusard: he was owner and editor of the newspaper L'Aurore, and it was he who retitled friend Emile Zola's damning article from the bland "Lettre au President de la République" to the eye-catching "J'accuse", and printed it on the front page. Zola was subsequently tried for libel and eventually fled to exile in England in the summer of 1898, bearing Clemenceau’s letter of introduction to Maxse. Clemenceau’s comments the affair in the current correspondence include his plan to attend Zola's second trial, and his concern for the fate of Colonel Picquart, who early on in the case had tried to establish Dreyfus's innocence:

"…ce qu'on tente actuellement contre ce malheureux est cent fois pire que l'affaire Dreyfus, car Dreyfus est une victime du hasard tandis que Picquart s'est volontairement dévoué pour sauver celui-ci…"

Clemenceau's admiration for Picquart subsequently led him to appoint him as Minister of War in his first cabinet.

Clemenceau criticises British foreign policy on several occasions. He argues that the British have taken a retrograde step in Egypt and aggravated an already dangerous situation. He also provides some prophetic words about the Boer War:

“…Vous êtes plus forts que les Boers et vous allez abuser de votre force. Je ne suis pas sûr que la puissance de l'Angleterre en Afrique s'en trouve consolidée. Votre victoire laissera derrière elle une tournée de haines . . . Chamberlain a préféré précipiter les choses et je vois que toute la nation anglaise le suit avec ardeur dans la voie belliqueuse . . . Vous allez écraser ce petit peuple. Je ne puis pas applauder…”

Clemenceau’s letters also extend to wider cultural subjects. He thanks Maxse for sending a novel by George Meredith (possibly Beauchamp's Career, based on Maxse himself), provides him with an introduction to the actor Coquelin, with the caveat "le destinataire jouit de la plus monstrueuse vanité qui soit", asks him to help a French journalist in London, and arranges meetings and dinners. 

PROVENANCE:

By descent to Lady Violet Milner, nee Maxse (1872-1958); sale of her papers, Sotheby's, London, 23 July 1985, lot 409