Louis-Lucien Klotz
Encyclopedia
Louis-Lucien Klotz was a French
journalist and politician. He was the French Minister of Finance
during World War I
.
to Alsatian
Jewish parents, He was the nephew of Victor Klotz (1836-1906), a wealthy silk
dealer. After completing his legal
education, he enrolled as an advocate at the Cour d'Appel in Paris. In 1888, at the age of twenty, he founded Vie Franco-Russe, an illustrated paper intended to increase popular support for the Franco-Russian Alliance
. In 1892 he became editor of Voltaire, and campaigned against the reactionary policy of Jules Ferry
. In 1895, he founded Français Quotidien, a patriotic daily paper devoted to national defense, into which Voltaire was later merged.
. He ran for office and lost again a few years later. Then in the 1898 election
, he ran for the Assembly from Montdidier
as a Radical Socialist. This time he was elected by an overwhelming majority. He retained this seat until 1925.
He was noted for his industry as a Deputy and in government posts. He served as President of the Customs Commission, then as Rapporteur General of the budget. He held the following prominent ministerial
posts:
Klotz was a member of several civic and charitable societies, including the Society for the Defense of Children, the Prison Society, and the Central Committee for Labor.
His lack of financial acumen was noted years earlier by Clemenceau, who reportedly commented "My finance minister is the only Jew in Europe who knows nothing about money."
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
journalist and politician. He was the French Minister of Finance
Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (France)
The Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment , or Minister of Finance for short, is one of the most prominent positions in the cabinet of France after the Prime Minister....
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early life
Louis-Lucien Klotz was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Alsatian
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
Jewish parents, He was the nephew of Victor Klotz (1836-1906), a wealthy silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
dealer. After completing his legal
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
education, he enrolled as an advocate at the Cour d'Appel in Paris. In 1888, at the age of twenty, he founded Vie Franco-Russe, an illustrated paper intended to increase popular support for the Franco-Russian Alliance
Franco-Russian Alliance
The Franco-Russian Alliance was a military alliance between the French Third Republic and the Russian Empire that ran from 1892 to 1917. The alliance ended the diplomatic isolation of France and undermined the supremacy of the German Empire in Europe...
. In 1892 he became editor of Voltaire, and campaigned against the reactionary policy of Jules Ferry
Jules Ferry
Jules François Camille Ferry was a French statesman and republican. He was a promoter of laicism and colonial expansion.- Early life :Born in Saint-Dié, in the Vosges département, France, he studied law, and was called to the bar at Paris in 1854, but soon went into politics, contributing to...
. In 1895, he founded Français Quotidien, a patriotic daily paper devoted to national defense, into which Voltaire was later merged.
Political career
Klotz was an unsuccessful candidate for the National Assembly from his Paris district in the 1893 electionFrench legislative election, 1893
The 1893 general election was held on 20 August and 3 September 1893.-Parliamentary Groups:- Sources :*...
. He ran for office and lost again a few years later. Then in the 1898 election
French legislative election, 1898
The 1898 general election was held on 8 and 22 May 1898.-Popular Vote:-Parliamentary Groups:- Sources :*...
, he ran for the Assembly from Montdidier
Montdidier
Montdidier is the name of several communes in France:* Montdidier, in the Moselle département* Montdidier, in the Somme département...
as a Radical Socialist. This time he was elected by an overwhelming majority. He retained this seat until 1925.
He was noted for his industry as a Deputy and in government posts. He served as President of the Customs Commission, then as Rapporteur General of the budget. He held the following prominent ministerial
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
posts:
- Minister of Finance, 3 November 1910-2 March 1911, in the second government of Aristide BriandAristide BriandAristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
. - Minister of Finance, 27 June 1911-22 March 1913, in Briand's third government.
- Minister of the Interior, 22 March-8 December 1913, in the government of Louis BarthouLouis BarthouJean Louis Barthou was a French politician of the Third Republic.-Early years:He was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and served as Deputy from that constituency. He was an authority on trade union history and law. Barthou was Prime Minister in 1913, and held ministerial office...
. At this time there were large protests and demonstrations against the "Three Years Law" for military conscription. - Minister of Finance, 12 September 1917-20 January 1920, in the second government of Georges ClemenceauGeorges ClemenceauGeorges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
. He was responsible for negotiating reparations from Germany. His policy was characterised by his famous formula: "The Boche will pay!"
Personal life
In 1924, Klotz published his memoirs of this period, De La Guerre à La Paix (From the War to the Peace).Klotz was a member of several civic and charitable societies, including the Society for the Defense of Children, the Prison Society, and the Central Committee for Labor.
Conviction and death
After his retirement, he became involved in dubious and risky financial speculations, and lost all his money. In 1929, he was convicted of passing bad checks and sentenced to two years imprisonment. He died less than a year later, on 15 June 1930. With no further hope of settlement, his creditors seized his residence at 9 Rue de Tilsit, which he had inherited from his brother.His lack of financial acumen was noted years earlier by Clemenceau, who reportedly commented "My finance minister is the only Jew in Europe who knows nothing about money."