Stopping a War/Chapter 9
9. Doriot Tells the Soldiers to Fraternize
Doriot then read from the letters written by soldiers, expressing their dissatisfaction with the war, and demanding its termination. He was repeatedly interrupted and attacked during this portion of his speech.
"Doriot.—Tomorrow, gentlemen, when, leaving France with such a spirit of opposition, the soldiers reach the front and realize that in the interior of this country, workers and peasants like them want immediate peace with the Riff, and that those who govern France refuse to take the least step in this direction, they will consider themselves no longer bound to
Postscript.
you. They will seek out the means to end the war that you wish to continue. They will remember that, in other circumstances, the marines on the Black Sea. … (Applause from the left. Lively protests from other benches.)
"M. Duboys-Fresney.—It is a call to mutiny.
"Doriot.—… as later on our soldiers in the Ruhr held out their hands to the workers who were opposing them, They will also remember that on this same Riff front the Spanish soldiers have talked with the Riffians. (Applause from the extreme left. Lively protests from numerous benches. Tumult.)
"Numerous voices.—Censure!"
After a period of disorder Doriot was again given the floor to make his position clear.
"Doriot.—Permit me then, so that there may be no misunderstanding. …
"Général Saint-Just.—The Government should jail you!
"The President.—M. Doriot, I ask you, have you invited our soldiers to desert?
"Doriot.—I said: Tomorrow, when they learn that in the interior of this country workers and peasants like them desire immediate peace with the Riff, and believe that it is possible to obtain this peace, and that the governors of France refuse to take the least step, they will consider themselves no longer bound to you. They will seek the means of stopping the war that you wish to continue. (Interruptions from various benches.)
"Let me read to the end, gentlemen.
"They will remember that, under other circumstances the marines on the Black Sea refused to fire on the revolutionary workers of Russia … that the soldiers of the Ruhr fraternized with the Germans. (Protests. Tumult.)
"M. Charles Francois.—It is not true!
"Doriot.—I say that the soldiers in the Ruhr fraternized with the German workers; that the Spanish soldiers on the same Riff front were not afraid to talk with the Riffians and I add: they will hold out a hand of friendship to those that you now call enemies. They will impose peace on you. That is my conviction and my belief. (Applause on the extreme left. Protests from other benches. Tumult.)
"From many benches.—Censure!
"Cornavin.—Down with war!
"M. Andrè Fribourg.—You are bargaining with the blood of soldiers.
"The President.—I must say to M. Doriot, and to the Assembly, that these words are grave side by side with those already pronounced. If, unluckily, a soldier, in a careless moment was caught, lacking in military duty …
"Andrè Berthon.—Make peace!
"The President.—… was caught under the conditions indicated by M. Doriot, he, Doriot, would suffer no ill effects; the poor soldier would risk his life.
"Prolonged tumult. The deputies on the extreme left rise and sing the International. Applause. Protests. The Presi--
dent puts to the Chamber the question of censure. Doriot is censured.
"The President.—M. Doriot has the floor to finish his speech.
"Doriot.—Gentlemen, I finished my speech with my appeal to the soldiers. The appeal to fraternize was my last word."
Other sessions of the Chamber during which the Communist Deputies spoke against the Riff War were no less tempestuous. Economic fact and political propaganda, clear-cut and unequivocal, was directed again and again at the French war makers and imperialists.