About Théophile Delcassé
Théophile Delcassé (French: [teɔfil dɛlkase]; 1 March 1852 – 22 February 1923) was a French politician who served as foreign minister from 1898 to 1905. He is best known for his hatred of Germany and efforts to secure alliances with Russia and the United Kingdom that became the Entente Cordiale. He belonged to the Radical Party and was a protege of Léon Gambetta. == Biography == Delcassé was born on 1 March 1852, at Pamiers, in the Ariège département. He wrote articles on foreign affairs for the République Française and Le Temps, and in 1888 was elected conseiller général of his native département, standing as "un disciple fidèle de Léon Gambetta". In the following year he entered the chamber as deputy for Foix. === Colonial affairs === Delcassé was appointed under-secretary for the colonies in the second Ribot cabinet (January to April 1893), and retained his post in the Dupuy cabinet till its fall in December 1893. During this period he would push strongly for the independence of the undersecretariat, beginning with the demand that it be transferred out of the backrooms of the Ministry of the Navy, to a separate building in the Pavillon de Flore - this physical separation helped ensure it would become relatively free from naval control. Drawing upon the previous work of Faure and Etienne, he would also campaign vigorously for the establishment of a separate ministry devoted to the matter, with Faure likening his force of personality and resistance to ministerial control to that of Julius Caesar. Backed up by the resignation of the following undersecretary Maurice Lebon, he was able to speak forcefully in favor of the establishment of a Ministry, and it was largely owing to his efforts that the French colonial office was made a separate department with a minister at its head thanks to a passing of a bill by 260 votes to 239.
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