Description:

Gallieni Joseph 1849 - 1916 Former Colonial Governor Joseph Gallieni observes that Martinique is not "a bed of roses".

Single page TLS on watermarked "14e Corps d'Armee et Gouvernement Militaire de Lyon" letterhead dramatically signed "Gallieni" in black fountain pen at bottom. In very fine condition, with expected paper folds, toning, and a few corner wrinkles. Two or three dots of isolated foxing near top does not affect strictly right justified typed text. Page measures 8.25" x 10.5".

This letter dated from Lyon on Christmas Eve 1907 was addressed to "My dear Carde", or Jules-Gaston-Henri Carde (1874-1949), who had served under Gallieni in Madagascar. In it, Gallieni thanked Carde for the receipt of a note, probably a seasonal greeting, and then launches directly into a commentary on Martinique, where his former subordinate was now serving as Chief of Staff to Governor of Martinique Charles-Louis Lepreux (1856-1930).

Martinique had been a valuable but problematic French colony since its acquisition in the early nineteenth century. "I knew in advance that you would not precisely be on a bed of roses in Martinique," Gallieni writes. "I lived in that country and I know how many lively quarrels exist between parties, and notably, how the question of color often makes them even larger and more venomous. But, Mr. Lepreux is a man of sang-froid and I am certain that, because of this characteristic that is so indispensable in these functions, he will know how to overcome all the difficulties in front of him".

Joseph Gallieni (1849-1916) was a career colonial administrator, having served in Senegal, Reunion, Martinique, the French Sudan, Indochina, and as Governor of Madagascar from 1896 until 1905. Gallieni was a conservative who implemented more aggressive colonial policies, like enabling French officials to circumvent law courts to punish directly individual citizens or settlements. In 1905, Gallieni was appointed Military Governor of Lyon and the 14 th Corps of the Army of the Alps. This position was responsible for troops, armaments, and the garrison located in one of France's largest cities.

Gallieni understood the complex problems inherent in colonial administration, especially those related to the political, economic, cultural, and racial tensions between the mother country and the colony. From his personal experience, Gallieni judged that Martinique needed an unflappable and inflexible leader. It is thus with admiration, and not criticism, that Gallieni writes of Lepreux's "sangfroid".

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