Delcassé, Théophile

(1852-1923)

   political figure

   Born in Pamiers, Théophile Delcassé served as a Radical deputy (1889) and minister for colonies (1894-95) and then was given the portfolio of foreign affairs, which he held from 1898 to 1905. As minister of foreign affairs, he contributed, with the help of paul cambon, to development of the rap-proachment between France and Italy (1898), as well as to strengthening France's alliance with Russia (1900). After the fashoda incident, he was, with Cambon, the initiator of the entente cordiale with Great Britain. This alliance, which would cause concern for Germany, took into account French rights in Morocco (the French-English Convention of 1904) in exchange for the renouncing of French rights of Egypt. This convention, which was made to the detriment of Germany, brought a strong reaction from Berlin (Emperor Wilhelm Il's Tangier statement, 1905). To avert a conflict, the prime minister asked Delcassé to resign, probably without stating the reason, and accepted the terms of the Algeciras Conference. Named minister of the navy (1911-13), then ambassador to Russia (1913-14), Delcassé was recalled as foreign minister at the beginning of World War I to serve in the cabinet of rené viviani. Delcassé supported Italy's entrance into the war, but as he was criticized for not having gained the neutrality of Bulgaria, which had joined the Central Powers, he resigned from the government.

   See also marchard, jean-baptiste.