31 juillet 1914 : Jaurès, dernier rempart de la paix, assassiné
Les événements se précipitent en cette fin juillet 1914 après l’assassinat de l’archiduc François-Ferdinand. Le jeu des alliances européennes a fonctionné au delà des espérances. La guerre se prépare. Events were precipitated at the end of July 1914 after the assassination of the Archduke Francois-Ferdinand. The game of European alliances had functioned beyond all hope. They are preparing for war.
En France, il reste une voie pour la paix : l’infatigable Jean Jaurès, dirigeant du parti socialiste et fondateur du journal l’Humanité. Il est tué le 31 juillet au café du Croissant à Paris.
Jean Jaures, pacifist and socialist, made his last public speech in Brussels on 29 July 1914. The newspaper he founded The Humanity, said: “he was the only voice of peace: the indefatigable Jean Jaures, head of the PS and founder of the newspaper The Humanity. He was killed on 31 July at Café du Croissant.
His motives were questioned by the French political classes. Poincaré had replaced Clemenceau as head of state and his stated aims in his election campaign numbered among them the regaining of Alsace and the part of Lorraine lost to Bismarc in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. The political leaders in France, Italy and Russia were in favour of war and they turned on Jean Jaurés, labeling him Herr Jean Jaurés, with German sympathies and a collaborator with Kaiser William II. With the death of Jean Jaurés went the last chance for peace.