We greatly regret the death of M. Viviani, a valued
friend during the War to whom France and her Allies owed much. Born in Algeria, he came to France and was soon recognized as a brilliant lawyer and journalist. He began his political life as an evolutionary Socialist co-operating with MM. Millerand and Briand. He held office under MM. Clemenceau, Briand and Doumergue, and became Prime Minister in June, 1914, holding also the portfolio of Foreign Affairs. Thus he came to accompany M. Poincare to Russia in July and returned to Paris four days before he received the German declara- tion of war, the end of his efforts to avert it. A month later he made up his coalition Government of National Defence and held on through all the intense difficulties until October, 1915, when he served under M. Briand again and then under M. Ribot, retiring in 1917. Later he paid official visits to the United States and was one of the best of the French representatives at the meetings of the League of Nations. He was a great orator, who used his gifts nobly in encouraging his country through some of her worst hours.
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