Anti-Jewish Trends in French Revolutionary Syndicalism Author(s): Edmund Silberner Reviewed work(s): Source: Jewish Social Studies, Vol.

15, No. 3/4 (Jul. - Oct., 1953), pp. 195-202 Published by: Indiana University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4465171 . Accessed: 24/12/2012 11:49
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TRENDS IN FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY ANTI-JEWISH

SYNDICALISM*

By

EDMUND SILBERNER

Recent manifestationsof Jew-hatredbehind the Iron Curtain, may appearas a new phenomenonto those who are unacquaintedwith the history of leftist movements. To those,however,who have studiedthe subject, they are less surprising. Manifestationsof leftist Judeophobiaoccurred more than once in the past and, what is no less interesting,not only in the offersa good Syndicalism East but also in the West. FrenchRevolutionary leftist radical can penetrateeven into the most exampleof how antisemitism
circles.'

was a strongmoveSyndicalism It may be recalledthat Revolutionary ment in Franceat the beginningof the twentiethcentury.2 This movement tactics in particin generaland to parliamentary was opposedto "politics" ular. It fought against capitalism,and advocated a regime in which the "direct trade unionswould own the means of production. It recommended action,"sabotage, and the general strike as the most effective weapons of struggle. the proletarian
* On the subject of antisemitism in the Socialist and labor movements, see Silberner, E., "Was Marx an anti-Semite?," in Historia Judaica, vol. xi (1949) 3-52; idem, "Proudhon's Judeophobia," ibid., vol. ix (1948) 61-80; idem, *Antisemitism and Philosemitism in the Socialist Internatonal,"in Judaism, vol. ii (1953) 117-22; idem, "CharlesFourier and the Jewvol. viii (1946) 245-66; idem, "The Attitude of the STUDIES, ish Question," in JEWISH SOCIAL Fourierist School Toward the Jews," ibid, vol. ix (1947) 339-62; idem, "Friedrich Engels and the Jews," ibid., vol. xi (1949) 323-42; Szajkowski, Z., "The Jewish Saint-Simonians and Socialist Antisemites in France," ibid., vol. ix (1947) 330-60; idem, Antisemitism in der frantseizisher arbeter bavegung fun Fourierizm bizn soif Dreyfusaffere, 1845-1906 (New York 1948); Mayer, B., "Early German Socialism and Jewish Emancipation," JEWISH SOCIAL STUDIES, vol. i (1939) 409-22; Bloom, S. F., "Karl Marx and the Jews," ibid., vol. iv (1943) 3-16; Duker, Abraham G., "Polish Emigre Socialists on the Jewish Problem," ibid., vol. xiv (1952) 317-42; and Spiro, George, Marxism and the Bolshevik State. Workers Democratic Government versus National-Burocratic 'Soviet' and Capitalist Regimes (New York 1951) p. 681-793 (Ed.). 1 The author found very useful indications in Yurii M. Steklov's "The Latest Trends in French Anti-Semitism," in Sovremettnyi Mir (November-December 1912). Some pertinent details are also contained in S. Frydman's Di professionele bavegung tsvishn di yiddishe arbeter in Frankreich biz 1914 (Paris 1937). 2 An excellent bibliographyon Syndicalism is given in Egbert, D. D., and Persons, S., (Ed.), Socialism and American Life, vol. ii (Princeton 1952) p. 73-77, 223-24.

195

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JEWISH SOCIAL STUDIES

Emile Pouget,one of the distinguishedleadersof Revolutionary Syndicalism,once assertedthat this movementwas free from antisemitism.3But his assertionis couched in such a language that it conveys the feeling of hypocrisy and double-talk. "In order to avoid any false interpretation," said Pouget, "and so that the sensitive epidermisof our Jewish comrades does not trembleanew, let it be well understoodthat amongus there is and nor maskedantisemitism."4Yet in spite can be neitherblind philosemitism evidence proving the existence of this declarationthere is incontrovertible Syndicalism. of anti-Jewish bias in Revolutionary Apartfrom RobertLouzon,a militantsyndicalist,who-without being at least three importin the strict sense a racialist-denounced"Semitism,"5 ant syndicalistswere more or less antisemitic:GeorgesSorel,the theoristof union;and Emile the movement;Emile Pataud,secretaryof the electricians' Janvion, editor of Terre libre, organe syndical d'action directe. Both Pataudand Janvionhad Anarchistleanings,and could in fact be dealt with or underthat of Anarcho-Syndicaleitherunderthe headingof Syndicalism ism. I. Pataud and Janvion In the Spring of 1911, Pataud and Janvion announcedby posters "a great anti-Jewishand anti-Masonicmeeting"in Paris.6 It took place on April3, 1911,and was chairedby Pataud,one of the most popularagitators of the GeneralConfederationof Labor. The main speaker,Janvion,was acclaimedby an audienceof some 1800people,7amongwhom the Camelots du Roi were quite numerous.Some shouted: "A bas les Juifs!" Others screamed: "A bas les jesuites!l8 Some sang the International,others the antisemiticchansonLa YoupignoleVA Russianpresent at the meeting felt of his native country.'0 as if he were amongthe pogromists Accordingto the stenographicrecord of his speech, Janvionattacked "the internationalshield of cosmopolitan only rich Jews and Freemasonry, Jewry."" On the other hand, Pataud declared that it was not his fault if
3 On Pataud, see Andre Tridon, The New Uitiontism (New York 1917) p. 63, 86-88 4 La Guerre sociale (January 3, 1912) 2. 5 Louzon, in Mouvemenrt socialiste, vol. xix (1906) 193-99.
6

Archives israe'lites, vol. lxxii (1911) 109.

(April 11, 1911) 2. 8 Temps (April 5, 1911) 2. 9 Libre parole (April 4, 1911) 3, and Guerre sociale (April 12, 1911) 2. 10 Hucmanite (April 4, 1911) 3. 11 Janvion, in Terre libre (April 15, 1911) 4.
7 According to Pataud, in Humaniti

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ninety-fivepercentof the capitaliststhat he was attackingin connectionwith laborconflictswere Jews.12 His statementthat he bore "noill will towards little Jews" was accompanied, however, by shouts from all sides: "Abas tous les Juifs, petits ou gros!'"l3 Before closing the meeting, Pataud moved a resolutionwhich was acceptedby the audience. The resolutioncondemned for its effortsto corruptthe trade unions. It also stated that Freemasonry the citizens presentat the meeting put on record,"withoutthereforebeing the complicity of the principalJewish capitalistswith Freeantisemites," masonry.14Thus, accordingto the officialrecordsneither Pataudnor Janduring vion seem to have made any specificallyantisemiticpronouncements necesis not capitalists Jewish that attacking clear quite the meeting. (It is afterthe meeting,Pataudand Janvion sarilyan antisemiticact). Moreover, declaredin open letters to the press that they were not antisemites.15 Yet, no one in Socialistand Anarchistcircles seemed to believe them. of the at the open co-operation were horrified Both Socialistsand Anarchists two leaders with royalistsand reactionaries. The antisemitismof the two and by Gustave men was denounced by Jean Longuet in L'Humanite',16 Herveand SebastienFaurein La Guerresociale.17 It also provokedindignawho, on April 6, 1911, held a protest tion among Jewish trade-unionists, meeting at the Bourse de travail. At this meeting Jean Longuet recalled had done for the cause of the international what Jewish revolutionaries proletariat. The Bundist Liber condemnedin a Yiddishspeech the "Cantiof Pataud,who was presentat the meeting and theresemitic declarations" upon protestedonce morethat he was not an antisemite.18Patauddid not, however,succeed in convincingthe audience,which passed a motionurging the membersof his unionnot to make commoncause with their secretary.'9 The question may be raised, of course, whether Pataud and Janvion were genuine antisemites,or.whether they were only accused of antisemi12 13
14

Libre parole (April 4, 1911) 3. Humaniite(April 11, 1911) 2. Full text of the resolution in Huinanite (April 11, 1911) 2.

15 Pataud, ibid.; Janvion, in Action francaise (November 23, 1912) 1; and in Bataille syndicaliste (January 4, 1913) 2. 16 Humanite (April 4, 1911) 3; (April 11, 1911) 2.
17

18

Guerre sociale (April 5, 1911) 1; (April 12 1911) 2. Temps (April 8, 1911) 3.

of his anti-Jewish stand. It expelled hiim,however, in 1913, after he, Janvion and a few other friends, had made an armed attack on the editorial staff of the Bataille syndicaliste. Cf. Bataille syndicaliste (February 4, 1913) 1; (February 20, 1913) 2.

19 Ibid. The union of electriciansnever took any action against their secretary Pataud because

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for one reasonor another,with antisemitic tism becauseof their association, elements outside the trade union movement. There is enough material availableto answerthe question. Pataudhimself declaredpublicly that he was neither a philosemitenor an antisemite,but "simplyan asemite."20At best this could mean that in his hostility towardsthe Jews he did not go so far as the antisemites. That he was, however,hostile to them in principleis if one recallsthat he was convinced-as he said in a letter hardlysurprising to Rothschild-that "Jewis synonymouswith inhuman.' was even strongerthan that of Pataud. As for Janvion,his antisemitism Janvion'spaper, Terrelibre, published a great numberof articles directed not only againstthe bourgeoisiebut also againstJewishimmigrantworkers in France was condemnedby the paper, for the in France, Philosemitism very obvious reasonthat in a countrydominatedby the Jew it is "a crime against the revolutionaryspirit."22 This domination, asserted Janvion's paper,was not due to a chance. In theirmarchtowardsCanaan,he argued, cosmopolitanJewry was carryingout, particularlyin France, a centuriesold plan to invade all the nations of the world.23 "The Judaized gang of were, accordingto Terrelibre, examplesof how deeply this domJaures,"24 inationpenetratedeven into the Socialistmovement. French workers,accordingto the same paper, were sufferingnot only is an from Jewish capital but also from Jewish labor. "Internationalism the and the kikes for (youtres) above all Excellent excellent doctrinel French workwho take away jobs from Frenchmen."26 Moldo-Walachians ers were thus beginning to realize the consequencesof "the Jewish invasinto workshops,stores and ion."27 Arguing that the "Semiticinfiltration" offices,lowered the standardof living and increasedthe unemploymentof Frenchmen,28Terre libre approved "the economic movement directed
20 Pataud, in Guerre sociale (April 12, 1911) 2. 21 Pataud as quoted in Humanite' (April 11, 1911) 2. His letter to Rothschild, says Herve, "pue l'antisemitismed plein nez." Cf. Guerresociale (April 12, 1911) 2. 22 Janvion, in Terre libre (February 15, 1911) 1. In 1900, Janvion wrote: "Je dis que ceux qui ont dechaine'dans l'anarchie cet invraisemblable mouvement de philosemitisme (le droit d'e'trejuif, etc.) ont encouru la plus lourde responsabilite. C'est entre ces deux poles: philosemitisme et anttsemitisme que nous devions rester." Temps nouveaux, Supple'mentlitteraire, vol. iii (1900-02) 235. 23 Anon., in Terre libre (September 1, 1911) 3. 24 Ibid. (March 1, 1911) 3. 25 Riquier, Marius, in ibid. (November 15, 1910) 1. 26 Anonymous leading article, ibid. (October 15, 1911) 2. 27 Ibid. 28 Pringault, Frangois, in ibid. (January 1, 1912) 2.

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What disturbedthe .29 against the "kikish'jaundice'"('jaunisse'youpine) Syndicalistpaperand its editor,Janvion,was not merelythe competitionof Jewish workers, but also the fact that they organized themselves into and nationalists" separateunions. They were thus accusedof being "Jewish of interposingthemselves between French workers and "Jewishcapitalism."30 A warningwas given to them by the syndicalistcomradesof Terre antisemites. We are satisfied,for the moment,to act as men. Try, therefore, to conduct yourselvesas men, and not as Jews. Otherwise,you will soon have facilitated by your outburstsof an unwelcome nationalism,the by people who, you dread."31Quite a curiousproclamation explosionwhichl for the moment,were neitherphilosemitesnor antisemitesl32 II. GeorgesSorel Sorel (1847-1922) wrotemuchon a varietyof subjects,but-prior to the last yearsof his life-hardly anythingaboutthe Jewishproblem. All he had must not be consideredas to say about it before 1910was that antisemitism an ephemeralphenomenon,and that it could be eliminatedonly by elevatreformsfor those ing the morallevel of society, and by securingsatisfactory classes which furnishthe greatestcontingentof antisemites.33 In 1910,he expoundedhis views on the problemto one of his younger friends,who recordedthem carefullyin a notebookrevisedby Sorelhimself. The Jews, he said, are an old and quite a philosophicalrace. They have been driveninto commercenot by any naturalinclination,but by economic discrimination. They are as assimilableas any other people, and it is only that they have not as yet been due to their persecutionand discrimination that of Drumont,is particularly fully assimilated. Therefore,antisemitism, basicallywrong. Jews,and morespecificallyFrenchJews,have their faults. Unaccustomedas they are to politicalliberty, they abuse it. In particular, they show the tendency to exaggeratethe dangers to which they are exposed. They manoeuverin favor of a certainlicense in politicallife. Had they remainedquietly in their place, antisemitismas a so-called doctrine would perhapsnever have been born. They are also imprudent,perhaps, in going politicallytoo far to the left.34 Numerousas these criticismswere,
Pringault, in ibid. Anonymous editorial, "Aux proletaires juifs," ibid. (April 15, 1911) 1. 31 Ibid. 32 Terre libre is full of other antisemitic articles which the author does not intend to list here, 33 Sorel, "L'Eglise et l'Etat," Revue socialiste, vol. xxiv (1901) 407. 34 Variot, Jean, Ed., Propos de Georges Sorel (Paris 1935) p. 146-53,
29 30

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Soreldid not drawfromthem any antisemiticconclusions. On the contrary, they were made in a ratherfriendlyspirit. Withintwo years,however,Sorelchangedinto an antisemite. It must of be noted in this connectionthat this changeis not due to his abandonment Syndicalist RevolutionarySyndicalism. In fact, he never renounced the ideology. True, in 1910 he became convinced that the Syndicalistmovement had become corrupt,and consequentlybroke with it. But he never brokewith the Syndicalistideology. Even later, after having establisheda close relationshipwith the right nationalist circles of Maurrasand the Action franqaise,he was not converted to their ideology.35 He did not Yet,howof Fascism.37 nor, still less, a precursor becomea "traditionalist",36 ever differentfromhis new friendshe may have remained,his new antisemitism did not differmuchfromtheirs. Sorelexpoundshis new stand on the Jewishproblemin an apology for UrbainGohier,who, afterhavingleft the Socialistmovement,obtainedsome notorietyas an authorof numerousantisemiticwritings. Like Gohier,Sorel must defend their state, their customs, and their asserts that Frenchmen. ideas, againstthe Jewishinvaderswho want to dominateeverything.38He not withoutimpliedagreement,a passagefrom Daniel Halevy also quotes,39 of Saint(a grandsonof Leon Halevy, the well-knownJewish collaborator is a very plausibleattitude,and to a certainextent a Simon): "Antisemitism must in view of his new outlook,antisemitism indeed, And, one."40 prudent have been considered by him as plausible and prudent. The Jews, he now asserts, have contributed powerfully to the maintaining of the West in barbarism.41In their present struggle against the church, they show no less desperateeagernessthan their ancestorswho filled the court of clamoragainstJesus. They occupy a prominPilatewith theirblood-thirsty ent place in the world of demagogy,where, without any outlay of intelligence, it is easy to find good positions. Jewish agitatorsare exploitingfor of the masses. The wealthy Jews their own purposesthe anti-clericalism
35 See Dolleans, Edouard, "Le Visage de Georges Sorel," Revue d'histoire economique et sociale, vol. xxvi (1940-47) 97-112; and particularly Sorel's letter to Dolleans of October 13, 1912, ibid., p. 106-07. 36 Ibid. See Posse, E. H., in Archiv fur die Geschichte des Sozialismus und der Arbeiterbewegung, vol. xv (1930) 161 ff. 38 Sorel, "Urbain Gohier,"Independance (January 1, 1912) 320.
37

39 Ibid.
40 41

Luttes et problJmes (Paris 1911) 99. vol. iii (1912) 234. Sorel, "Quelquespretentionsjuives," Inde'pendance,

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encouragethem, in the belief that in difficulttimes those radical agitators will lead the massesto the rescueof the Jewishplutocracy. Jewishparvenus, devoured by their ostentatiousness,believe that money entitles them to rules lasciviousness, and thereforefight againstthe churchand the Christian of behavior. Nearly all of them encourageobsceneliterature.42
No one among us would think of regarding the Jews as enemies of our country, if they would consent to live as ordinary citizens, following any honorable trade, performing their religious activities, and contributing to general culture as much as possible; but unfortunately the Jewish intellectuals consider themselves little Messiahs, and their nation thinks itself obliged to support them in their expeditions. In order to have the right to call themselves architects of great transformations, the Jewish writers fight stubbornly against the spiritual heritage of the society into which they have been admitted by the accident of migration. Such undertakings can not fail to arouse justified anger. A people so abject that it would out of sheer wantonness sacrifice to the Jewish spoofers (ironistes juifs) the depository of its traditions, would obviously deserve to suffer the worst catastrophes.43

The Jews, accordingto Sorel,show eagernessin conquering"socialcitadels": the university,where French traditionshad been so well preserved, in the army; they is now their property;they are becoming preponderant patronizethe modernists,now so numerousin the church. Those who do not want to submitto their controlare vilified. All this causes a strongreaction on the partof the French. The defense of their cultureby men such as Charles Maurras(and his Action fran!aise) may endangerindeed the position of the Jews if they themselves do not muzzle their own intellectuals.44 Fromall that has been said Soreldrawsa practicallessonfor the benefit of the Jews. They should realize the anti-Jewishcharacterof the recent changes which had occurredin French minds. They would act wisely if they limited themselvesto peaceful mercantilepursuits,instead of aspiring to lead humanityto Messianiclands.45 A biographerof Sorel mentions in passing that during the few years He which precededWorldWar I his hero became"violentlyantisemitic."46
42

Ibid., p. 290-91.

43 Sorel, "Quelquespretentions juives," ibid, p. 332-33.

Ibid., p. 335-36. With his usual wit, Sorel mentions the two litterateurs by the name of Natanson, "two Jews who came from Poland to regenerate our poor country so unhappily contaminated by Christian civilization." "Aux temps dreyfusiens," ibid., vol. iv (1912-13) 52. 45 Ibid., p. 56. Sorel does not seem to have examined Zionism; in a passing remark (ibid., p. 43), however, he considers its adherents as fanatics.
44 46

Pirou, GaRan, Georges Sorel (Paris 1927) 50.

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also recalls that in making a eulogy of Lenin, "Sorelelegantly reconciles antisemitismand bolshevism,"47 by crediting Lenin with the constructive side of the CommunistRevolutionand by blaming the Jews for its acts of terrorism.48Whether or not this reconciliationis elegant is a question of opinionand personaltaste. But whetherelegant or not, it is of greatersignificancethat Sorel-the greattheoristof Revolutionary Syndicalism-found it possibleat all to reconcilehis social philosophywith a rathervulgarantisemitism.
47 48

Ibid.
Sorel, Re'flexions sur la violentce,4th ed. (Paris 1919) 450.

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