Joseph Paul-Boncour
Encyclopedia
Augustin Alfred Joseph Paul-Boncour (ʒɔzɛf pɔl bɔ̃kuʁ; 4 August 1873 – 28 March 1972) was a French politician of the Third Republic
.
, 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
.
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). 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 War II).
During his time as a Senator, Paul-Boncour served in a variety of cabinent 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
. 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. He once again served as a senator from 1946 to 1948.
He died in Paris in March 1972.
]
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
.
Career
Born in Saint-AignanSaint-Aignan, Loir-et-Cher
Saint-Aignan is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France.-Geography:Saint-Aignan is situated on the Cher River. The nearest town of more than 40,000 inhabitants is Blois.-Features:...
, Loir-et-Cher, Paul-Boncour received a law degree from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and became active in the labor movement, organizing the legal council of the Bourses du Travail (workers' associations
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
). He was private secretary to Premier Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau from 1898 to 1902. Elected to the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...
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
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
.
Turning to Socialism, he joined the SFIO in 1916, but resigned in 1931 to join the Republican-Socialist Party
Republican-Socialist Party
The Republican-Socialist Party was a French socialist political party during the French Third Republic, founded in 1911 and dissolved in 1934. It was founded by socialists who refused to join the SFIO founded in 1905. The PRS was a non-Marxist "reformist socialist" party located between the SFIO...
(PRS), which in 1935 merged with the French Socialist Party
French Socialist Party (1919)
The French Socialist Party , the second political party to exist under this name, was a political party in France founded in 1919 during the Third Republic which emerged from the right-wing of the French Section of the Workers' International...
(PSF) and the Socialist Party of France-Jean Jaurès Union
Socialist Party of France-Jean Jaurès Union
The ' was a political party in France founded in 1933 during the late Third Republic which united the right-wing of the French Section of the Workers' International ....
PSdF) to form the Socialist Republican Union
Socialist Republican Union
The ' was a political party in France founded in 1935 during the late Third Republic which united the right-wing of the French Section of the Workers' International.The USR was founded by the following parties:*Socialist Party of France-Jean Jaurès Union...
(USR). Also in 1931, Paul-Boncour was elected to the Senate
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
, and served in that capacity until the establishment of the Vichy régime
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
in 1940 (during World War II).
During his time as a Senator, Paul-Boncour served in a variety of cabinent and diplomatic posts. He was the Permanent Delegate to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
from 1932 to 1936, Minister of War in 1932, Premier from December 1932 to January 1933, and Foreign Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
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
The Vichy 80
The Vichy 80 were a group of elected French parliamentarians who, on 10 July 1940, voted against the constitutional change that dissolved the Third Republic and established an authoritarian regime known as Vichy France....
, and recommended continuing the fight against Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
after the fall of France, from Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
. As a member of the Consultative Assembly from 1944, he led the French delegation to the United Nations conference
Treaty of San Francisco
The Treaty of Peace with Japan , between Japan and part of the Allied Powers, was officially signed by 48 nations on September 8, 1951, at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California...
in San Francisco and signed the United Nations Charter
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
on behalf of France. He once again served as a senator from 1946 to 1948.
He died in Paris in March 1972.
Paul-Boncour's Ministry, 18 December 1932 – 31 January 1933
- Joseph Paul-Boncour – President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Édouard DaladierÉdouard DaladierÉdouard Daladier was a French Radical politician and the Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War.-Career:Daladier was born in Carpentras, Vaucluse. Later, he would become known to many as "the bull of Vaucluse" because of his thick neck and large shoulders and determined...
– Minister of War - Camille ChautempsCamille ChautempsCamille Chautemps was a French Radical politician of the Third Republic, three times President of the Council .-Career:Described as "intellectually bereft", Chautemps nevertheless entered politics and became Mayor of Tours in 1912, and a Radical deputy in 1919...
– Minister of the Interior - Henri Chéron – Minister of Finance
- Albert Dalimier – Minister of Labour and Social Security Provisions
- Abel GardeyAbel GardeyAbel Gardey was a French politician. In 1933, he has been the French Minister of Budget....
– Minister of Justice - Georges LeyguesGeorges LeyguesGeorges Leygues was a French politician of the Third Republic. During his time as Minister of Marine he worked with the navy's chief of staff Henri Salaun in unsuccessful attempts to gain naval re-armament priority for government funding over army rearmament such as the Maginot Line.He was born...
– Minister of Marine - Léon Meyer – Minister of Merchant Marine
- Paul PainlevéPaul PainlevéPaul Painlevé was a French mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of the Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925.-Early life:Painlevé was born in Paris....
– Minister of Air - Anatole de MonzieAnatole de MonzieAnatole de Monzie was a French administrator, encyclopaedist , political figure and scholar. His father was a tax collector in Bazas, Gironde where Anatole - a name he disliked from an early age - was born in 1876...
– Minister of National Education - Edmond Miellet – Minister of Pensions
- Henri QueuilleHenri QueuilleHenri Queuille was a French Radical politician prominent in the Third and Fourth Republics. After World War II, he served three times as Prime Minister.He was the son of a noblewoman.-First ministry :...
– Minister of Agriculture - Albert SarrautAlbert SarrautAlbert-Pierre Sarraut was a French Radical politician, twice Prime Minister during the Third Republic.Sarraut was born in Bordeaux, Gironde, France.He was Governor-General of French Indochina, from 1912 to 1919....
– Minister of Colonies - Georges BonnetGeorges BonnetNot to be confused with the French Socialist Georges MonnetGeorges-Étienne Bonnet was a French politician and leading figure in the Radical-Socialist Party.- Early career :...
– Minister of Public Works - Charles Daniélou – Minister of Public Health
- Laurent EynacLaurent EynacLaurent Eynac was a French politician who was appointed Minister of Transportation on 7 June 1935 until 24 January 1936.He was born in Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, Haute-Loire.-References:...
– Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones - Julien Durand – Minister of Commerce and Industry
]