Figure 1.--This magzine featured the Caillaux Affair on iscover (March 29, 1914). hat was befre the erutio of te Balkans Crisis folloewing he assainatin of he Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28). Madame Caillaux's trail took place as the Balkans Crisi was morphing into Workd War I (Juky 20-28). It dominated French newsoaprs. Only 4 days later, France was at war. Notably Joseph Caillaux was the most important French politician favoring accomodation toward Germany.

A Serbian terrorist shot Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Bosnia (June 28). Austria-Hungary was shocked. Officials debated on how to respond. This lead to a series of diplomatic exchanges between European countries, the most important being between Germany and Russia. This was was followed in the newspapers especially by mid-July as the situation worsened. Much of his was done in secret, but began to leak out into the press, especially as public statements were issued by the countries involved. The Germans turned a regional crisis into a major European crisis involving France. In the midst of all his, a notorious trial was taking place in Paris involving a major French political figure -- Joseph Caillaux. He was a prominent financier that became prime minister (1911). He was a leader of the Radical Party and he most important French politician advocating a conciliatory policy toward Germany. This was a factor in defusing the Second Moroccan Crisis (1911). His short-lived government fell after it became public that he had been secretly in contact with the German Government without informing President Armand Fallières (1912). 【Keiger, p. 126.】 . While out of office, he continued to have considerable influences, primarily because of his reputation as a brilliant financier. He was reappointed Minister of Finance. He advocated some at the time controversial ideas, including an income tax. This was a very radical idea at the time. As a result he came under intense press scrutiny. As is the nature of politics, this included personal attacks. France's most important newspaper (Le Figaro published scandalous attacks far afield from finance. The Balkans Crisis was being followed closely by the public in European countries--except for France. The French until war broke out were obsessed with a rip-roaring sex scandal--the Caillaux Affair (March-July 1914). The paper began publishing Caillaux's love letters in installments to maximize sales. Le Figaro hey got hold of letters he sent to his second wife Henriette while still married to the first, Berthe Gueydan. The Caillauxs were one of Paris' wealthiest couples. A incensed Madame Caillaux burst into the office of Gaston Calmette, the editor of Le Figaro (March 16). Concealed in her fashionable fur muff was a Browning automatic pistol. She fired six shots into Calmette's abdomen (March 16). She was a surprisingly good shot. He was mortally wounding and died within hours. 【Berenson, pp.14-15.】. Madame Caillaux did not flee and waited for the police to arrive. She would not be touched and defended herself by saying, "there is no longer any justice in France". She also adamantly refused to be taken to the police station in am ordinary police van. She insisting on being transported by her chauffeur in her luxury automobile. She was arrested and charged. Caillaux resigned as Minister of Finance. Madame Caillaux's trial made even more headlines (July 20). The trial received even more coverage than the brewing European crisis. Even President Raymond Poincaré was pulled into it. She faced life imprisonment at hard labor or possibly death. But she convince the jury of extremely extenuating circumstances, a crime 'passione'. They returned a verdict of not guilty (July 28). 【Berenson, p. 16.】 No sooner than all that was over. A series of events brought France back to reality. Four days later, France was at war Austria-Hungary delivered its Ultimatum to Serbia consisting of a long list of onerous demands (July 23). The Austrians saw the Serbian Government has responsible for the assassination. They demanded to be allowed to participate in the investigation and judicial process in Serbia. The Serbians were willing to accept the demands, except Austrian participation in an investigation. Serbian officials claimed that this violated their Constitution. The Austrians assured of German support rejected the Serbian reply (July 26). Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations and declared war (July 28). Austrian artillery began to shell Belgrade (July 29). As a result, the outbreak of war was more a surprise to the French people than other countries. Ironically, Caillaux was a leader that might have interrupted the march to war. Caillaux became a leader of the peace party during the War and was tried and found guilty of treason. Fox Films made a movie during the War that depicted the dastardly Germans as behind it all--"The Caillaux Case" (1918). For some reason it was not a success. Rehabilitated after the War, he continued as a prominent French politician. After the fall of France in World War II, Caillaux became a supporter of Marshal Pétain (1940).

Sources

Berenson, Edward. The trial of Madame Caillaux (Berkeley: University of California Press: 1992).

Keiger, J.F.V. Raymond Poincaré (Cambridge University Press: 2002).

Created: 8:34 AM 11/11/2024
Last updated: 8:34 AM 11/11/2024