December 16, 1912, when the Balkan conflict threatens to engulf Europe, the CGT mobilizing
its forces for preventive action: the war, the working class does not want. For
revolutionaries, it is a real test. This will be the last before 1914.
November 24, 1912, when the Balkan War brought Europe on the threshold of a general
conflagration, the Socialist International held in Switzerland a memorable congress
against war that evoke Louis Aragon in 1934 The Bells of Basel .
But the French CGT, revolutionary syndicalist orientation, did not want to go to Basel
pacifist protest vote "platonic". It has higher ambitions. Parallel Event socialist, she
holds her own so extraordinary congress against war in Paris.
Organized in record time, it is a success in terms of attendance: 1452 750 delegates
representing unions, it is more than ordinary congress Havre, two months earlier. The hall
of the cooperative La Bellevilloise is too small to hold them all.
The aim of the conference is to organize a general strike preventive twenty-four hours to
demonstrate opposition to the war of the proletariat, and discourage warmongering
government Poincar?.
Bid anarchist
This is the first time since his dismal failure in May 1909, the CGT attempted a general
strike. During the Moroccan crisis in 1911 [ 1 ], union had abandoned, noting that the
working class was not ready to lift. So one can imagine the burden that weighs on the
shoulders of activists and activists in the late 1912, the idea of grabbing again this
formidable weapon but if unwieldy: the general strike.
In this respect, the CGT still stumbles on the same obstacle: the strategic associations
to block the country - miners and railway workers - are not more proactive. If it were up
to their leaders, reformers, the subject would not even be discussed. This is largely to
circumvent this extraordinary congress, which will direct expression of the base, was
summoned. And it works.
The right of the CGT opposed the general strike, but with little insurance. His spokesman
expressed hostile to a room, and large federations reformists (Minor, Book, Cheminots)
does not in any event to their rescue.
At the other end, left the CGT feels good and gives position in the bidding, quickly
exceeding the strike issue twenty-four hours to bring the debate on the attitude to have
in case of war. Activists of the Communist Anarchist Federation (FCA) and their supporters
lead the attack on the theme of unpatriotic [ 2 ]. Estor (Building Montpellier) calls to
sabotage railway and postal communication channels in case of mobilization [ 3 ]. The
navvy Lepetit strike sees twenty-four hours rehearsal which "is not so much intended to
frighten the government to give confidence to the working world" [ 4 ]. The intervention
is the most sensational of Gaspard Ingweiller, the Union of metals from the Seine, and
Henry Combes, Employee [ 5 ]. The report recommends that they give reading of textbooks
sabotage, insurrection strike in case of war, the formation of "secret groups of
companions safe" to move to the revolutionary action, requisition or destruction of the
rotating bourgeois press [ 6 ]. For Combes, also secretary of the FCA, the labor movement,
he wants to scare the bourgeoisie, should be less than demand peace prepare for war: "It
should not be thought that we are afraid of war, need to know that we are ready, if the
war to revolution, to achieve social transformation. " [ 7 ].
This attitude is somewhat annoying tribunician officials as confederal Jouhaux, Yvetot
Griffuelhes, Merrheim and Dumoulin, anxious to get a strike twenty-four hours without the
scare delegates more moderate. It is ultimately their interventions that fit the debate
and in the end, the general strike was passed by acclamation almost unanimously [ 8 ]. It
will be December 16, 1912.
Congress ends as it should be by a mass meeting Salle Wagram: 15,000 listeners applaud
speakers come from all over France.
The rumor Arracourt
Soon returned home, activists are stepping up to the task. There are three weeks. And it
takes the heat because at the same time, nationalist fervor doubles in the press, which
rises pin a symptomatic episode: mobilizing Arracourt, near the German border.
As a result of an error PTT Arracourt nine rural communes of Meurthe-et-Moselle received
on 28 November, a military mobilization order. In perfect discipline, without manifest
reluctance, the vast majority of peasants illico answered the call. The event reflects the
sense of impending war in November 1912, even in the most remote rural areas. The
government and the press see it as a slap to the pacifists. The labor press retorted
"bluff", "patriotic hype" [ 9 ] and even "legend" [ 10 ].
The militants of the CGT so courageously continue their preparations in a hostile climate,
with a government that prohibits meetings, some farm labor exchanges, punish some
recalcitrant mayors and threat of revocation workers arsenals. At the same time, the sense
of urgency to strike down a notch with international appeasement: December 3rd, indeed, an
armistice was signed in the Balkans.
Searches and arrests
In Paris, the State continued repression against the most restless of unpatriotic: FCA and
Young trade unionists face raids and arrests. With several of its leaders fleeing abroad
or in jail, the FCA is badly shaken, but not bend. Early 1913, a class action lawsuit for
"anarchists carried out" under the wicked laws of 1894 will conclude, for 5 militants, for
a total of sixteen years in prison and a fine of 6,300 francs. The trial of the "Bonnot
gang" at the same time completely overshadow this maneuver choking revolutionaries.
Finally, the D-Day
The general strike of twenty-four hours against the war, December 16, 1912, is a
semi-success. To inflate the figures, we chose a Monday, the day of the week off work is
higher, due to too wet Sunday [ 11 ].
At the end of the day, the CGT 600,000 strikers. It is not mirobolant. Not ashamed either.
The daily Le Matin will see the equivalent of a "slightly amplified May 1" [ 12 ]. In
essence, the bourgeois press seeks to deny the event. "Complete failure of the strike"
general "twenty-four hours," proclaims L'Echo de Paris , "Failed" also Le Gaulois, La
Croix, Le Petit Journal and Intransigeant ; "huge oven" for Le Figaro , "black oven" for
the French Action . More forgiving, Le Matin title: "The strike peace was far from being
general," while Le Petit Parisien and La Presse suggest his character "partial" . Time, it
calls on the government to take action against unpatriotic [ 13 ] .
Minors create surprise
In fact, public opinion was hardly "?motionn?e" by the day, in the words of Emile Pouget [
14 ]. Daily life was not disturbed: trains and trams rolled newspapers were placed on
newsstands, mail has been sent.
The movement has largely relied on the traditional regions and corporations. Very strong
in the Rh?ne with the trams and bus stop - 50,000 strikers marched in Lyon, which had
never been seen. Honourable Paris region - unsurprisingly, it is the building, metals and
furniture that have worked best. In contrast, gas, electrical and book have not changed.
No more than state workers, except allumettiers d'Aubervilliers.
The two surprises, it is the Ardennes and the coalfields. The Federation of Miners is
reformist, but it has mobilized its troops loyally, with an encouraging result: 50% of
strikers in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais, 66% Montceau-les-Mines, 25% in the Loire more than
90% in the Aveyron, the Allier and the Gard. "But do not forget: no coal, no war possible!
" enthuses Pouget. As the Ardennes, industrial department and it is much more sensitive
border with Germany, the movement was massive, with 50,000 strikers.
In other regions, are strongholds local workers who made ??the motion. Shoe factories and
mills were busy in Ferns, Saint-Quentin, Roanne, Valenciennes, Vienna, Amiens ... ports
and docks were blocked in Nantes and Le Havre, especially mobilized. In contrast, workers
in the arsenals of Brest, Toulon and Rochefort apparently feared the threat of dismissal.
At Brest, for example, we counted only 57 missing, 250 on average against the rest of the
year [ 15 ]. In Cher, the movement was general, and even followed by farmers ... only the
munitions factories of Bourges are sidelined. In the Gard, H?rault and
Pyr?n?es-Orientales, are the laborers who made ??the motion.
Everywhere, the movement is accompanied by peace meetings, with an influx uneven. Clashes
with the police took place in Puteaux, Billancourt, Levallois-Perret and Lyon. In the
Paris region, police raided union halls.
On the eve of hardship
At the balance sheet, the CGT breathes in terms of its own criteria, it has passed the
test without ridicule. The demonstration was certainly not up to the challenge, but it
will weigh considerably heavier than the Socialist Congress in Basel. CGT is the only
force in the country to initiate such a mobilization, and the only one in Europe to have
done. Voice of the People, body confederation, not crying but victory salute "a beautiful
demonstration against war [...] really significant for the rulers. [...] We know, above
all, that the working class is composed of a dangerous revolutionary minority. Now we know
it can, this minority, lead the masses to a social revolution day or the day after a
declaration of war. " [ 16 ]
This is the Libertarian shows that by far the most enthusiastic titrating "The war
impossible" the one. "We will not have war. The people do not want it, here are our rulers
warned, " writes Eugene Jacquemin, who continues: "Never until now, a protest strike has
met many strikers [...] for now, c is sufficient. No government is likely to face the
hazards of war in such conditions. " [ 17 ].
For Emile Pouget is the main lesson to remember: "The mobilization for peace was not
general ... yes! It is an undeniable fact! But [...] if the government committed the
criminal folly to declare mobilization for war ... this mobilization would be much less
than the general strike was Monday. " [ 18 ]
Officially, the labor movement shows its confidence. In reality, it is on the verge of
serious difficulties in 1913, rising to the war will accelerate. Within the CGT, while the
reformists will prioritize action and corporate traditional consolidate their forces,
revolutionaries, prioritizing the fight against war, will collect all the repression,
exhaust their strengths and see their base shrink. From the summer of 1913, the CGT will
be shaken by a moral crisis which, a year later, when blowing the decisive hour, it will
not be output.
William Davranche (AL Montreuil)
Saber-rattling
October 8, 1912: War breaks out in the Balkans against the Ottoman Empire (supported by
Vienna and Berlin) in Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro (supported by Paris, London
and St. Petersburg).
October 27: Speech Nantes Chair, Raymond Poincar?: " France does not want war, but it
does not fear "
November 12: Grand meeting of the FCA promising "sabotage mobilization" if it should
happen. In the days following the crackdown on anarchists.
November 17: The Ottoman Empire is on its knees, Russia and Austria-Hungary are on the
warpath. Great war rally in Pr?-Saint-Gervais with PS and FCA.
November 24: International Socialist Congress against the war in Basel. The extraordinary
congress of the CGT Paris preventive vote a general strike.
December 3: Armistice in the Balkans.
December 16: In France, 600,000 strikers against the war.
16 February 1913: Failed negotiations and resumption of hostilities in the Balkans.
[ 1 ] Read " 1911: Agadir, the war is already here , " Alternative libertarian February
2011.
[ 2 ] This term prevailing at the time of the internationalism.
[ 3 ] The Hansard of 25 November 1912.
[ 4 ] Report of the congress, page 44.
[ 5 ] The Hansard of 25 November 1912.
[ 6 ] The Gauls of 25 November 1912.
[ 7 ] Proceedings of the conference on page 41.
[ 8 ] Report of the congress, page 61.
[ 9 ] Gustave Herv?, La Guerre Sociale December 4, 1912.
[ 10 ] Pierre Monatte on Labour December 20, 1912.
[ 11 ] This was called "make-Saint Monday."
[ 12 ] The Morning of December 17, 1912.
[ 13 ] The Times , 18 December 1912.
[ 14 ] ?mile Pouget, The Social War of 18 December 1912.
[ 15 ] The Gauls of 17 December 1912.
[ 16 ] The Voice of the People December 22, 1912.
[ 17 ] The Libertarian December 21, 1912.
[ 18 ] The Social War of 18 December 1912.
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