Alfred Rosmer

Alfred Rosmer , of his true name Alfred Griot , born in 1867 close to New York and deceased in 1964 with Creteil is a trade unionist who illustrated with the working Life (VO), one of the founders of the Third International, member of the political office of the party Communist-SFIC (future PCF) between 1922 and 1924, near to Trotski starting from its exclusion in 1924, historian of the labor movement.

Biography

Childhood and youth

Until the old one 8 years, the young Alfred Griot lives in Patterson close to New York where his/her father was hairdresser before installing a living room with Montrouge in 1884. This father, supporter of Dreyfus, will put the Dawn in his hairdressing salon. After having passed his patent and having exerted some small trades, Alfred makes a success of a contest which enables him to become employed with the writings in the Parisian town halls.

Its principal biographer, Christian Gras notes that " the idea to make career was, for him as for other future militants, of exceptional and brilliant intelligence, vast culture, completely foreign with their design of the life ". He thus benefits from the spare time which leaves him a not very constraining work to be interested in the theater, painting and the literature. He is also gained by the revolutionary ideas. Rejected by the parliamentarism of the Socialists, it is of anarchistic tendency. It adheres to various movements: " Holy-Geneviève" mountain; , " Socialist students révolutionnaires" , " Revolutionary socialist students internationalistes".

Of its childhood in the United States, it had the memory of the English language. Moreover, he learns Italian and Russian to read the authors who interest it. In June 1906, Alfred signs its first article in the anarchistic newspaper " new Times " , a theatrical criticism on Ibsen. The theater will be a passion which will never leave it.

Working Life

Alfred had adhered in 1899 to the first trade union of the employees of prefecture. He moves away slowly from anarchism to approach the revolutionary trade unionism and sign his first articles, always on the theater in the newspaper the working Life , the newspaper of CGT that Pierre Monatte founded in 1909. As from 1913, it belongs to the “core” (name of the semi-official coordinating committee) of the newspaper and sign under the pseudonym of Alfred Rosmer. He is the specialist in England and the United States. Monatte and Rosmer will always remain of faithful friends.

As from 1912, Rosmer also collaborates in the " Battle syndicaliste" where it replaces Amédée Dunois. It is put then on unlimited leave of its administration. The amateur of theater becomes parliamentary editor then where he criticizes the speeches " very Française" Comedy;. He as severe for the verbeuse eloquence of the members of Parliament as for is débraillé which is posted in certain anarchistic mediums.

Its interests for the international problems lead it to accomplish many voyages, in England, in Switzerland, in Belgium, to attend congresses or to follow strikes, to meet militants. In 1913, it is sent to the international Conference trade unionist which is taken place with London. CGT and the VO, in dissension with the creation of International of this type, refused to take part in it officially. Rosmer remains always curious to meet foreign militants.

The war

At the time of the declaration of war in 1914, Rosmer and Pierre Monatte are in disagreement with the policy of the sacred union. They refuse to subject the VO to the censure which consequently ceases appearing. Rosmer is mobilized, but remains close to Paris and can continue its militant activities. Always in phase with Monatte, it becomes the heart of an internationalist small group. It organizes the clandestine diffusion in France of “With the top of the fray” published in Switzerland, by Romain Roland. It is at that time that it binds friendship with Russian militants exiled to Paris, in particular Trotsky and Martov which went to the meetings of the VO. Almost each Sunday, Rosmer spent the day in one of the home Parisian of Trotsky.

It cannot go to the Conférence of Zimmerwald which joins together apart from the traditional structures, trade unionists and Socialists. It is there that the `' Committee for the resumption of the international relations creates for itself''. Rosmer takes part in the meetings of the group and sign with Trotski, on February 29th, 1916, in the Bulletin of Zimmerwald, a proclamation clearly affirming the need for an Internationale news.

It is at that time that it meets with a pacifist meeting Marguerite Thevenet which will remain his/her partner until her death.

The Committee of IIIe International

From 1917, it supports the Russian Revolution and engages resolutely in the diffusion of the Bolsheviks publications. Always of agreement with Monatte, it defends the line of a movement internationalist being based on a revolutionary trade unionism.

`' the working Life'' reappears on April 30th, 1919. With the congress of the CGT of Lyon to which it assisted and of which it made the report, the speech of Monatte traced the program of the minority trade unionist.

The `' Committee for the resumption of the international relations'', becomes in May 1919 the `' Committee of IIIe Internationale'' which delegates Rosmer to Moscow for IIe congress of the Third International that one will call also `' International Communist'' (IC). Rosmer will remain in Russia seventeen months during which he will attend all the leaders Bolsheviks, in particular Trotsky and Lénine and the leaders of the IC as Zinoviev with which the reports/ratios will be always tended. It is allowed at the Executive committee of the IC and sits at the Commission of the international problems which it on several occasions chairs E the trade-union commission. It enters to the “small office” of the executive committee to with dimensions of Zinoviev, Radek, Boukharine and Béla Kun authorities of the IC, but also Belgium and of Switzerland.

He worked primarily within the authorities of the IC. Its standpoint was clear. In the internal discussions, if it had tactical divergences, or others deeper, it did not wish to expose them outside: there was no question of harming the action of the IC with which he was in agreement on the essential points.

Rosmer approves the policy of the Bolsheviks overall, even if it does not minimize the difficulties of the revolution in the articles which it sends to the press. He does not imagine a dissension with the repression of Cronstadt and does not believe in the possibility of an assassination of the others deputy French anarchist-trade unionists Vergeat , Lepetit and Lefebvre mysteriously disappeared in the Far North, whereas they tried to return to France by Mourmansk. Christian Gras notes that it will be a painful subject for the remainder of its life.

The former anarchist also accepts the need for dictatorship of the proletariat, radically different from parliamentary socialism. Its presence in Moscow prevented it from taking part directly in the preparation of the Congrès of Turns, but Monatte which did not take the step yet to adhere to a party and Rosmer are close to the militants of the Committee of the 3rd International one (Fernand Loriot, Boris Souvarine…), and have only mistrust and contempts for Frossard or Cachin, the two “center” leaders of the young French of International Communist (SFIC, later renamed Section “French Communist party”.

Creation of International Trade-union the Red

In July 1921, Rosmer takes part in the congress constitutive of the Trade-union Internationale Red (ISR). The question of the relations between the two international ones is extremely delicate. For the anarchist-trade unionists, the trade union is the paramount tool to conclude a working revolution, whereas the Leninist vision gives the primacy to the party. Rosmer which is the only rapporteur after the defection of Zinoviev, draws some by a skilful speech: since the majority of the delegates was favorable to the co-operation of the two International ones, this co-operation between the two international ones, desired by the majority of deputy was to be acceptable. The parties must approach the revolutionary trade unions. That implies a bond and not a subordination. But a Russian delegate, Alexei Losovski presents a text which envisages an obligatory organic connection between party and trade union. Rosmer can make better only replace " obligatoire" by “highly desirable”.

Creation of the CGTU

At the end of 1921, Rosmer is replaced by Boris Souvarine like French representative within the IC. It regains France, but will still accomplish several stays in Moscow between 1922 and 1924.

In July 1921, the congress of Lille of the CGT had seen to clash the majority reformists and the minority revolutionists. The scission is inevitable. Of return in France, Rosmer takes part in the congress of minority of December 1921. It defends the principle of International single, but is found exceptionally against Monatte, hostile with the connection between the International ones. When Monatte withdraws direction of the working Life , it is made replace by Gaston Monmousseau, considered to be more favorable to L independence of the trade unionism. In July 1922, the minority ones meet for the first congress of the CGTU whose Rosmer obtains finally the affiliation with the ISR.

Member of the political office of the French Section of the International Communist

With its return of Moscow, Rosmer adhered to the new party resulting from the Congrès of Turns, the SFIC (French Section of the International Communist - future French Communist party). It quickly will take responsabilities there. It is located in the “Left” of the party at with dimensions of Souvarine, and for this reason becomes member of the management Committee after IVe congress of the IC, in December 1922. He is then elected at the Political office in January 1923 and is re-elected with the congress of Lyon in January 1924. In fact Rosmer forever exerted functions of first importance within the SFIC. It does not preserve a long time the station of general secretary of the Humanity, posts for which it seems so well done.

In Moscow, he had been opposed in Zinoviev and to Paris, he naturally will be opposed to Albert Treint, the man of Zinoviev appointed Co-secretary of the political office of then 1922. Treint conducts a campaign against the “droitiers”. March 18th, 1924, Rosmer abstains from at the management Committee in the vote on the theses Treint, whereas Monatte and Souvarine vote against.

It was in Ve congress of the IC that Rosmer fully took conscience of the situation, the probable elimination of Trotsky, the triumph of the zinovievists and thus of the Treint group which entered in force to the executive committee of the IC.

Present at Ve congress of the IC, Rosmer sees being profiled the elimination of Trotsky to the profit of Zinoviev. Of return to Paris, it makes circulate the notes of Lénine (the " will "). It must then be explained in front of the Political office, to have made circulate " ragots". Monatte and Rosmer then are kept away and are excluded from BP in October 1924. An extraordinary national conference shows them " coarse frossardism, anarchizing individualism, trotskysme badly refined ".

Life after the Party (1925-1940)

Monatte and Rosmer carry out initially a common combat with a review trade unionist-Communist, the proletarian Revolution. Trotsky their request to liquidate the review, to act like soldiers of the party, to address to the Executive Comintern to ask for a revision of their business.

In fact Rosmer becomes increasingly critical with respect to the IC and of the Soviet mode which " turns the back on Communism and creates new layers of privileged ". Monatte takes again its old trade of corrector of printing works and militates at the base with the trade union of the correctors. Rosmer becomes also corrector, but privileges the political action. When Trotsky is expelled in Turkey, in 1929, Alfred and Marguerite Rosmer support it while trying to organize a guard to prevent an assassination and to obtain visas for surer countries. Rosmer is also occupied to sell articles of Trotsky in the large press.

In 1929, he becomes editor association of a weekly magazine the Truth and in 1930, he takes part in the creation of an organization, the communist Ligue of France . Divergences appeared very quickly between the leaders, Maurice Dommanget, Raymond Molinier, Rosmer and Pierre Naville. Repudiated by Trotsky on the role of Molinier, Rosmer resigns of the League in December 1930, and gives up any collaboration with the Truth.

Tired, Rosmer puts out of night light its militant activities and launches out in the writing of monumental a Histoire of the labor movement during the war which volume I leaves in 1936. In margin of its trade of corrector who ensures him of the sufficient incomes to lead a simple life to the garden city of the Lilas. Marguerite also brings her incomes of stimulating of summer camp and medical visitor. The couple accomplishes some stays abroad, and in particular in Spain in 1936 when it notes the extent of the fight of Stalinist against the oppositional ones. In addition to the drafting of sound History of the labor movement during the war , it attempts to denounce the Stalinist crimes in the businesses Andrès Nin, Kurt Landau, Ignace Reiss.

Rosmer joins again bonds with Trotsky at the time of the lawsuits of Moscow. The personal friendship survived the political dissensions. It takes part in work of the Study committees on the lawsuits of Moscow. It animates the French committee and fact part of the ten Members of the Commission of investigation installation by the American committee. It thus spends summer 1937 to the United States to collect testimonys and collaborates in the work Not guilty! . In the meetings in which it takes part, both in the United States and in France, it must naturally face the hostility of the Stalinist ones.

Rosmer remains however in margin of the organizations trotskists. At the time of the Conference constitutive of the IV {{E}} International, in November 1938, it lends its small house of Périgny but does not take part in it. When Trotsky leaves to the Mexico, it indicates Rosmer like the tutor of its Sieva grandson. In 1939, Alfred and Marguerite undertake to convoy Sieva until Coyoacan where resides the grandfather and in June 1940, they are in the United States.

Life after the Party (1940-1964)

Rosmer remain in the United States until 1946. Made Alfred of the corrections of the Bible and Marguerite gives French lessons. They travel much, have few contacts with the French in the United States, except with Boris and Francoise Souvarine.

Of return in France in summer 1946, badly at ease in front of the national unanimity of France of post-war period, it was in full agreement with his friends of the Proletarian Révolution . It resumes a work of corrector at Gallimard and Grasset and in the daily press.

The Rosmer couple always accomplishes many voyages, in particular in Yugoslavia, as of the Tito-Stalin rupture.

In 1949, it writes its memories on its action in the International Communist in a work Moscow under Lénine . It has much evil to find an editor and can publish the work only in 1953, thanks to the support of Albert Camus which prefaces the book. In 1959, with the assistance of a sale per subscription, it leaves volume II the History of the labor movement of Zimmerwald to the Russian Revolution . It will be able to never conclude volume III.

Engaged against the colonial wars, it signs the Manifeste of the 121.

In 1960, it entered, with Marguerite, at the old people's home Chardon Lagache, while keeping the “barn”. The death of Monatte in 1960 deprived it of older sound and faithful friend. In 1962, the death of Marguerite, and eight days afterwards, that of Natalia Sedova, were for him severely testeds. Its mental activity remained very intense, it continued its research tasks for its volume III, wrote forewords for works of Trotsky. It was happy to see developing a freer thought on Communism, received readily the young researchers. Smiling and secret, friendly and held, cordial and readily ironic, he liked the small meetings of friends, animated by his humor of the small meals which he appreciated, walks in nature that he liked.

He dies on May 5th, 1964, at the hospital Albert-Chennevier with Creteil, 2 years after his Marguerite wife and 4 years after his old friend Monatte.

Portrait

According to Philippe Robrieux,

Of a size a little above the average, with a small moustache, an extremely fine face and one nothing mixed melancholy of humor in the expression, Alfred Rosmer is a man discrete, reserved, measured and cultivated. Polyglot. Lénine had said of him that it could be keep silent into five or six languages… It incarnates, in what it has of better, the type even of the militant, working intellectual of the beginning of the century…

According to Albert Camus,

Rosmer, in tortuous times, followed a right way, at equal distance of the despair which ends up wanting its own constraint, and from the discouragement which tolerates the constraint of others. It did not disavow anything of what it always believed.

Works of Alfred Rosmer

the Labor movement during the war, volume I, Of the Sacred union with Zimmerwald , Bookstore of Work, 1936,
the Labor movement during the war, volume II, De Zimmerwald with the Russian Revolution , Mouton, 1959.
Moscow under Lénine , Pierre Horay, 1953, republication. F. Maspero, 1970
Correspondence Rosmer-Trotsky , Gallimard, 1982.

Sources

Colette Chambelland, Christian Gras, article Alfred Rosmer in biographical Dictionary of the labor movement French , working editions, 1997
Philippe Robrieux, interior History of the Communist party , T1 and T4, Beech

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