16.04.2015 Views

synarchy movement of empire book ii - Pierre Beaudry's Galactic ...

synarchy movement of empire book ii - Pierre Beaudry's Galactic ...

synarchy movement of empire book ii - Pierre Beaudry's Galactic ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Italy, but failed because <strong>of</strong> the internal opposition <strong>of</strong> synarchist Paul<br />

Baudouin, and General Weygand. He then signed a mutual assistance pact<br />

with the Soviet Union.<br />

In the aftermath <strong>of</strong> the failed coup <strong>of</strong> February 6, 1934, by Colonel La<br />

Rocque, Daladier had given his resignation, and President Lebrun had called<br />

in the freemason, Gaston Doumergue, to replace him. Laval persuaded the<br />

new Premier to appoint Marshal Petain as Minister <strong>of</strong> War. This was the<br />

beginning <strong>of</strong> Petain's move into politics and also the start <strong>of</strong> a strange<br />

relationship with Laval, who was then Minister <strong>of</strong> Colonies in the new<br />

government at the time. The choice <strong>of</strong> Petain was a crucial one because<br />

Petain had been a collaborator with the {Croix de Feu}, the {Redressement<br />

Francais} and the {Action Francaise}. Petain was especially close to<br />

Charles Maurras, since it was he who got Maurras elected at the Academie<br />

Francaise, in 1938. Petain considered Maurras as "the most French <strong>of</strong> all<br />

Frenchmen." Maurras had also later noted that Petain was key to their<br />

cause: "We must bring Petin to Power. He will bring back the King."<br />

Maurras had declared. From that moment on, Laval and Petain will always<br />

be close together.<br />

As early as 1935, both Left and Right extremists were calling for<br />

Petain to head the Government. Two members <strong>of</strong> the {Redressement<br />

Francais}, Raphael Alibert and Gustave Herve, put out a pamphlet entitled<br />

{It is Petain Whom We Need}. During the same year, the left-wing radical<br />

<strong>Pierre</strong> Cot, expressed the same idea when he wrote a magazine article stating<br />

that Petain was the only man who was "capable <strong>of</strong> Saving France." Strangely<br />

enough, both Left and Right had made the same synarchist political choice.<br />

After the electoral victory <strong>of</strong> Leon Blum and the Front Populaire, in<br />

1936, Laval will be pushed out <strong>of</strong> government until 1940. Though Laval was<br />

out <strong>of</strong> government, he kept seeking the opportunity to come back with the<br />

synarchist mission <strong>of</strong> destroying the Third Republic. Laval became the<br />

leading spokesman against the {parliamentary system} and for the necessity<br />

<strong>of</strong> an {authoritarian regime}. His goal was to be reelected by the very<br />

parliamentary regime that he had sworn to destroy.<br />

When the first Petain Cabinet was organized, in July <strong>of</strong> 1940, deputy<br />

Chautemps was nominated Vice-Premier, General Weygand became<br />

Minister <strong>of</strong> National Defense, Admiral Darlan was nominated to head the<br />

Ministry <strong>of</strong> the Navy, and Paul Baudouin became Minister <strong>of</strong> Foreign<br />

111

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!