MAURIAC, François (1885-1970)

MAURIAC, François (1885-1970)

First draft autograph manuscript
N.p.n.d. [second half of January 1945 ?], 1 p. in-4°
Fold marks

Mauriac expressed his firm opposition to the possible execution of Charles Maurras during his trial in January 1945

« Des adversaires de Charles Maurras ne peuvent se défendre d’être angoissés en pensant au terrible retentissement qu’aurait dans le pays son exécution. Ils craignent que l’unité nationale n’en demeure atteinte pour de longues années et que cet acte de justice ne soit pas compris par l’étranger. et n’apparaisse comme une victoire
Ils supplient le général de Gaulle en qui leur confiance est absolue. C’est à la clémence 

Ils ne prétendent pas intervenir dans / troubler / C’est
C’est à la seule clémence du général de Gaulle qu’ils s’adressent avec le seul souci de l’intérêt du pays. »  

At the end of the Second World War, Mauriac was among the intellectuals opposed to the excesses of the purge, in the name of Christian forgiveness. Arrested on September 8, 1944, Maurras was tried by the Lyon Court of Justice from January 24 to 27, 1945. Charged with conspiring with the enemy, he was also accused of anti-Gaullism, hatred of Jews, and radical positions in L’Action Française against the resistance fighters, whom he described as “terrorists,” while calling for their execution. In his defense, Maurras emphasized his anti-Germanism throughout the trial. He was finally found guilty on January 27 of high treason and conspiring with the enemy. The Court of Justice sentenced him to life imprisonment and national degradation. He thus narrowly escaped the death penalty. The trial of Robert Brasillach was also being held alongside the Maurras trial. With the help of Jean Anouilh and Marcel Aymé, Mauriac launched a petition asking General de Gaulle to pardon the young journalist and pamphleteer. Despite this initiative, Brasillach was executed on February 6, 1945. His defense of the collaborationists at this time earned Mauriac the nickname “Saint Francis of the Assises” from journalists.