Étienne Manac'h
Encyclopedia
Etienne Manac'h; b. 3 February 1910 in Plouigneau
, Brittany - d. 1992) was a French
career diplomat
and author
.
Collège from 1922 until 1925, and following the family's move to Paris attended the Lycée Buffon
, where he received his baccalauréat
in 1929. After the classe préparatoire
at the Lycée Louis-le Grand he studied philosophy
at the Sorbonne
, graduating in 1931 and obtaining his Diplôme d'études supérieures in 1934. After teaching in France and military service, he went on to teach philosophy and French literature
at Galatasaray High School, Istanbul
between 1938 and 1942.
movement in Turkey
, heading operations there from 1942, and was charged with developing clandestine contacts to members of the Résistance
working in Vichy French
embassies in the Balkan States. From 1945 - 1951 he was stationed in Czechoslovakia
, first as Embassy Secretary in Prague
, then as consul general in Bratislava
. Along with other Western diplomats, he was expelled from the country in 1951, allegedly for espionage
and support for "elements hostile to the regime". Between 1951 and 1969 he held various posts, including director of the cabinet of the socialist Ministre d'Etat
Guy Mollet
(from 1958-1959) and director of Asie-Océanie à l'Administration Centrale (Central Administration for Far Eastern Affairs) at the foreign ministry
(Quai d'Orsay
) from 1960 - 1969, where he was influential in setting up negotiations between Washington and Hanoi during the Vietnam War
. From 1969-1975, Manac'h served as French ambassador to the People's Republic of China
.
from 1934 to 1939, thus leaving himself vulnerable to accusations of espionage (after the war he became a socialist and was a member of the SFIO from c. 1959 to 1969). During the Second World War he had official contacts to the Soviet secret service and later as a diplomat he was responsible for relations with the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries. Nevertheless, there have been persistent (although unverified) rumours that he was a Soviet agent. For example, according to Christopher Andrew, Manac'h, codename TAKSIM, was a confidential informer (as opposed to an agent or even officer) of the KGB and its predecessors, for 29 years starting in 1942, when he had been approached while in Turkey. He had no less than six consecutive case officers, the last one being M. S. Tsimbal, head of the First Chief Directorate's Fifth Department.
in his native Brittany, buying the house Lezaven, where the painter Paul Gauguin
had his studio. He died there in 1992.
Plouigneau
Plouigneau is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-References:** -External links:*...
, Brittany - d. 1992) was a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
career diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Early life
Manac'h attended MorlaixMorlaix
Morlaix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Leisure and tourism:...
Collège from 1922 until 1925, and following the family's move to Paris attended the Lycée Buffon
Lycée Buffon
The lycée Buffon is a secondary school in the XVe arrondissement of Paris, bordered by boulevard Pasteur, the rue de Vaugirard and the rue de Staël. Its nearest métro station is Pasteur. Jean-Claude Durand is its current proviseur....
, where he received his baccalauréat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
in 1929. After the classe préparatoire
Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles
The classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles , commonly called classes prépas or prépas, are part of the French post-secondary education system. They consist in two very selective years , acting as a prep course with the main goal of training undergraduate students for enrolment in one of the...
at the Lycée Louis-le Grand he studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the Sorbonne
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...
, graduating in 1931 and obtaining his Diplôme d'études supérieures in 1934. After teaching in France and military service, he went on to teach philosophy and French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
at Galatasaray High School, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
between 1938 and 1942.
Diplomatic career
In 1941 he started working for the Free FrenchFree French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
movement in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, heading operations there from 1942, and was charged with developing clandestine contacts to members of the Résistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
working in Vichy French
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...
embassies in the Balkan States. From 1945 - 1951 he was stationed in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, first as Embassy Secretary in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, then as consul general in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
. Along with other Western diplomats, he was expelled from the country in 1951, allegedly for espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
and support for "elements hostile to the regime". Between 1951 and 1969 he held various posts, including director of the cabinet of the socialist Ministre d'Etat
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
Guy Mollet
Guy Mollet
Guy Mollet was a French Socialist politician. He led the French Section of the Workers' International party from 1946 to 1969 and was Prime Minister in 1956–1957.-Early life and World War II:...
(from 1958-1959) and director of Asie-Océanie à l'Administration Centrale (Central Administration for Far Eastern Affairs) at the foreign ministry
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...
(Quai d'Orsay
Quai d'Orsay
The Quai d'Orsay is a quai in the VIIe arrondissement of Paris, part of the left bank of the Seine, and the name of the street along it. The Quai becomes the Quai Anatole France east of the Palais Bourbon, and the Quai de Branly west of the Pont de l'Alma.The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is...
) from 1960 - 1969, where he was influential in setting up negotiations between Washington and Hanoi during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. From 1969-1975, Manac'h served as French ambassador to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Controversy surrounding possible activity as a Soviet agent
Manac'h was a member of the French communist partyFrench Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
from 1934 to 1939, thus leaving himself vulnerable to accusations of espionage (after the war he became a socialist and was a member of the SFIO from c. 1959 to 1969). During the Second World War he had official contacts to the Soviet secret service and later as a diplomat he was responsible for relations with the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries. Nevertheless, there have been persistent (although unverified) rumours that he was a Soviet agent. For example, according to Christopher Andrew, Manac'h, codename TAKSIM, was a confidential informer (as opposed to an agent or even officer) of the KGB and its predecessors, for 29 years starting in 1942, when he had been approached while in Turkey. He had no less than six consecutive case officers, the last one being M. S. Tsimbal, head of the First Chief Directorate's Fifth Department.
Later life
In 1975 he retired to Pont-AvenPont-Aven
Pont-Aven is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Pont-Aven are called in French Pontavenistes.-History:...
in his native Brittany, buying the house Lezaven, where the painter Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist. He was an important figure in the Symbolist movement as a painter, sculptor, print-maker, ceramist, and writer...
had his studio. He died there in 1992.
Further reading
- Power and Protest by Jeremi Suri, Harvard University PressHarvard University PressHarvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
2005, p. 226 - The Indochinese Experience of the French and the Americans by Arthur J. Dommen, Indiana University PressIndiana University PressIndiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. It was founded in 1950. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana....
, p. 681 - "Deux étudiants "Coloniaux" à Paris à l'Aube des années trente" by Jean-François Sirinelli, Vingtième Siècle, 1988