Autographed letter signed to Marcel Olivier.
A very fine letter from Lyautey, bitterly reflecting on the Colonial Exhibition of 1931, organized by him and Mr. Olivier, at Porte Dorée in Vincennes.
“Enough of Lyautey, we’ve had our fill of him,” that’s the gist of what they all thought.
Sold
Hubert LYAUTEY (1854-1934) Marshal of France.
Autographed letter signed to Marcel Olivier.
Two quarto pages on paper addressed to him.
(Thorey). January 3, 1932
"Enough of Lyautey, we've had our fill of him," that's the gist of what they all thought.
A very fine letter from Lyautey, bitterly reflecting on the Colonial Exhibition of 1931, organized by him and Mr. Olivier, at Porte Dorée in Vincennes.
“My dear Governor General and friend, I received your kind letter from Nice dated the 29th. I have already telegraphed you my family’s best wishes for yours. I reiterate them most affectionately, thanking you for all your cordial remarks about our collaboration. 1932 will be such a momentous year, fraught with vital concerns for our country and for the world , that personal worries pale in comparison to such uncertainties. Speaking again of the Exposition, you ask me if ‘our leaders fully grasp its success and suspect the role my personal prestige played in it.’ They are perfectly aware of it, and that is why they are only too happy that it is over. That is why they, and the City of Paris, were so hostile to the reopening, first of all, and then to the preservation of the slightest trace, not only of Angkor but even of the most innocuous and gratuitous sites, such as Mount Vernon, the great fortress….” everything must be razed, completely razed, and not a trace of my time in Vincennes must remain for the future. And that is why I am… that everyone—offices, city council, leadership—will stand in the way of the Maison de la France Extérieure (House of French Overseas France) and will do everything in their power to stifle it, delay it, and minimize it in such a way that I will have no interest or dignity in being involved. “Enough of Lyautey, we’ve had our fill,” that is the gist of what they all think . I fully accept this, and it is better to be clear about it than to be under any illusions. I have found my books, my memories, my work, and my people here, and that is what matters. I will return to Paris on the 15th to announce my general liquidation. My wife is very touched by the memory of Madame Olivier, whom she will be very happy to see again. I will be happy to see you again and talk with you, and I ask you to accept here, my dear Governor General and May, the assurance of my gratitude and affectionate devotion. Lyautey.
In 1927, Lyautey accepted the position of Commissioner General of the International Colonial Exposition, held at the Porte Dorée in Paris in 1931. Assisted by a handful of his former colleagues, with Gérard de Launay as his chief of staff, he achieved the remarkable feat of presenting reproductions of monuments from all five continents, such as the temples of Angkor, mosques, fortified villages (ksours), and the George Washington House, while balancing the budget thanks to the sale of 33 million tickets
Marcel Olivier served as Governor-General of Madagascar from February 20, 1924, to January 30, 1929. Under his leadership, the Bank of Madagascar was established, and investment by commercial companies was encouraged on the island. He also launched major public works projects, notably road construction. Upon returning to metropolitan France, Olivier was tasked with assisting Lyautey in organizing the International Colonial Exposition. His experience in the colonies and this involvement allowed him to cultivate numerous contacts within French political, administrative, and industrial circles.