Pacifism in action

“Wage war on war!” “Down with war!” These were some of watchwords which rang out well before war was declared. Labour internationalism seemed to be the solution for avoiding the war which was looming ahead. The French Sectionof theWorkers’ International, the General Workers’ Confederation and the anarchists were defending the idea that solidarity amongst workers could prevent war. The general strike which was organised simultaneously and internationally would be an answer and a form of insurgency against the war. Some towns in the Nord department were the stage for pacifist demonstrations of varying levels of internationalism, during which individuals such as Karl Liebknecht and Jean Jaurès spoke out. These gatherings took place under tight police control.

Following the assassination of Jean Jaurès in Paris on July 3, 1914, the The French Sectionof theWorkers’ International and the General Workers’ Confederation rallied to defend the nation. Patriotism absorbed every ounce of antimilitarism and pacifism in this shared and sacred Union. The government waived the right to apply the Carnet B plan, which provided for the preventive arrest of militants who could sabotage the mobilisation. However, in the Nord department, 59 arrests were made nonetheless. Pacifism was unable to prevent the explosion of hostility.