René Viviani | |
|---|---|
 Viviani in 1912 | |
| Prime Minister of France | |
| In office 13 June 1914 – 29 October 1915 | |
| President | Raymond Poincaré |
| Preceded by | Alexandre Ribot |
| Succeeded by | Aristide Briand |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jean Raphaël Adrien René Viviani 8 November 1863 |
| Died | 7 September 1925(1925-09-07) (aged 61) Le Plessis-Robinson, Paris, France |
| Political party | PRS |
Jean Raphaël Adrien René Viviani (French:[ʁənevivjani]; 8 November 1863 – 7 September 1925) was a French politician of theThird Republic, who served asPrime Minister for the first year of World War I. He was born inSidi Bel Abbès, inFrench Algeria. In France he sought to protect the rights of socialists and trade union workers.
René Viviani was born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, in a family of Italian and French origins, the son of Hélène (Barrière) and Édouard Viviani.[1] His parliamentary career began in 1893, when he was elected deputy of the fifth ward in Paris. He retained this office until 1902, when he failed to be reelected, but four years later he was elected deputy of theDepartment of Creuse. In the same year he entered the cabinet ofGeorges Clemenceau. At an early age he associated himself with the Socialist party, soon becoming one of its most brilliant orators and prominent leaders. When the party was reorganized in 1904 into the Unified Socialist party, Viviani, like fellow SocialistAristide Briand, stayed outside, and thenceforth called himself an Independent Socialist. He served asMinister of Public Instruction in the ministry ofGaston Doumergue. Viviani was an antisemite, arguing that "antisemitism is the best form of social struggle".[2]
In the spring of 1914 an exceptionally radical chamberwas elected, and for a while it seemed that they would be unable to agree upon any one for Premier, but finally, he was appointed prime minister on 13 June 1914, byPresidentPoincaré. He received a vote of confidence of 370 to 137. The chief issues were the maintenance of the law requiring three years' service in the army and provision for a loan of 1,800,000,000 francs ($360,000,000) for military preparations. Viviani supported both of these measures. During theJuly Crisis, he was largely dominated by President Poincaré. He retained the premiership for the first year of the First World War, but his tenure was undistinguished.
On 26 August 1914 Viviani reorganized his cabinet on a war basis withAlexandre Millerand replacingAdolphe Messimy as Minister of War.[3] Along with President Poincaré and War Minister Millerand he attended a June 1915 meeting ofJoffre (Commander-in-Chief) and his Army Group Commanders (Foch,Castelnau andDubail), a rare attempt at political oversight at this stage of the war.[4]
By autumn 1915 Viviani's government was in trouble following the resignation ofDelcassé as Foreign Minister, theunsuccessful western front offensive and theentry of Bulgaria into the war. Although he survived a no confidence vote by 372–9, there were many abstentions.General Gallieni agreed to replaceMillerand as Minister of War, but other French politicians refused to join Viviani's government, so he resigned on 27 October 1915. Viviani served as Vice-President of the Council of Ministers (Deputy Prime Minister) and Gallieni as War Minister inAristide Briand's new ministry.[5]
In April 1917 Viviani led a mission to the US, which had just entered the war "associated with" the Allies. He was overshadowed byMarshal Joffre, who attracted much more attention from the American press.[6]
During Viviani's time as prime minister, a law was adopted in July 1915 providing for special boards to fix such a wage for women employed in home-work in the clothing industry.[7]In May 1919 the Chamber of Deputies finally debated the bill proposed byPaul Dussaussoy in 1906 for limited women's suffrage. Viviani gave an eloquent speech in its support, and the chamber voted in its favour by 344 to 97.[8]
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Labour and Social Security 1906–1910 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts 1913–1914 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of France 1914–1915 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 1914 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 1915 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Justice 1915–1917 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts 1916–1917 | Succeeded by |
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded by | Cover of Time Magazine 19 May 1923 | Succeeded by |
