A Special Report from the Foreign Office
Revolution in France?
The following report was created by Comrade Feuerbach – Commissar for Foreign Affairs
Comrades, you may be aware of the current tumultuous situation across the border in France, but if you are not then it is imperative that you read this report closely. The outcome of the conflict in Europe’s greatest land power could gravely effect our future geo-political situation.
Most of you should recognise this man – Philip VII of France. Many of we Party members were involved in the attempt to overthrow his grandfather, Louis-Philippe, in 1848 and since 1850 this man has ruled as King of the French. Like his grandfather before him he has faced constant opposition from the Republicans in France and more recently from our Comrades in the French Workers’ League.
Sadly though Philip’s counterrevolutionary state and his close alliance with the bourgeoisie have meant that for most of the 1850s his position as King and as a direct threat to this proud Republic has remained secure. Yet in 1857 he made a grave error.
Between May 1857 and June 1858 the reactionary French Monarchy fought the slightly more progressive Spanish Monarchy over a small chunk of desolate territory in Morocco. The majority of the fighting took place in the blood soaked mountains of the Pyrenees although towards the end of the war French forced broke through Spanish lines and ransacked Catalonia. The war was a French victory but it was devastating for the King’s position. Around 150,000 French soldiers had died in a war that the public was never once in favour of. Confidence of the army was lost whilst the Anti-War movement (spearheaded by First International members – the French Workers’ League) was extremely powerful amongst the public. The King had lost a huge section of his support in exchange for what was in truth a worthless extension to French Morocco.
As is the fate of all capitalist economies the French economy collapsed in 1858. By the Spring of 1859 unemployment was approaching one million and at least three million more were on the breadline. With confidence in the ruling government utterly smashed the people flocked to the banners of the radicals. Unfortunately the strength of the Republican Party in France meant that far fewer entered the French Workers’ League than we might have hoped but there was still an upsurge in support for the faction.
Throughout 1859 anti-government agitation grew in France as Republican demonstrations filled the streets of Paris, Marseilles, Lyon and Bordeaux. Around September Blanqui’s Ministry of Intelligence began the clandestine arming of the French Workers’ League in hopes of provoking revolution.
The French Civil War was finally sparked off on November 15th 1859 after a rowdy Republican demonstration was attacked by Royalist troops. The Republican Party took this as reason enough to rise up and they sent out the call to arms for all proud Republican citizens of France. By the end of the week 100,000s of Frenchmen had risen up out of the Republican fortresses in Brittany, Gascony, the Rhone Valley and Provence whilst large sections of the French Army had joined the Republicans.
With the revolution so clearly in the hands of the liberal Republicans rather than any socialist movement the French Workers’ League was initially unsure of what action to take and on November 16th they consulted the First International. The International encouraged them to seek an agreement with the Republicans and then immediately join the Revolution (which by this stage was evolving into a Civil War as the Royalists had started to rally).
With a promise of representation in the future Republican government and concessions for the workers the French Workers’ League threw their lot in with the Republicans on November 21st as they launched a joint operation with the Republicans to seize Paris. The coup was a marvellous success as the King was humiliatingly forced to follow the example of his grandfather in 1848 and flee the capital. Shortly later volunteers of the International started to cross the border of the VSVR into France. This led to the capture of several areas in Elass and the industrial regions around Lille.
As 1859 draws to a close it is still unclear if the revolution shall succeed in France.
Although this revolution is liberal in character I feel, Comrades, that we must support it. Any movement of the working classes, even if it is not socialist, must be supported by the world’s only Worker’s state.
WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!