Dreyfus Alfred - The Affair: The Case of Alfred Dreyfus

The Affair

The Case of Alfred Dreyfus

by Jean-Denis Bredin

translated from the French by Jeffrey Mehlman

Co-Published by Plunkett Lake Press and George Braziller

February 2014

Jean-Denis Bredin

English translation copyright 1986 by George Braziller, Inc.

English translation used by permission of George Braziller, Inc., 277 Broadway, Suite 708, New York, NY 10007. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in the English language in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including, but not limited to, print, photocopy, recording, digital media, website or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from George Braziller, Inc., 277 Broadway, Suite 708, New York, NY 10007, (212) 260-9256, (212) 267-3165 (fax),

Originally published in France by ditions Julliard in 1983 as LAffaire

This eBook edition is a newly edited edition of The Affair: The Case of Alfred Dreyfus , first published in the United States of America in 1986 by George Braziller, Inc.

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Contents

To my daughter Frdrique

Acknowledgments

My thanks to:

Marcel Thomas, Zeev Sternhell, Mavis Gallant, and Erik Arnoult, who have assisted and enlightened me with their advice when I undertook this effort;

My friend Jean-Pierre Ramsay, who encouraged me in this project;

Chief Advocate General Lindon, who facilitated my first encounters;

Jean Favier, the Director General of the French Archives and Madame Favier, who facilitated my research and allowed me both to consult and to reproduce in part the files used by the High Court of Appeal and the numerous documents held in the National Archives;

General Delmas, head of the French Armys Historical Service, who placed at my disposal the secret file as well as the administrative files of the officers involved;

Charles Hernu, minister of defense, and Olivier Renard Payen, technical advisor to his staff, who, along with General Delmas, authorized me to take or use photographs of essential documents;

Bar President Bondoux, whose acquaintance with Edgar Demange, helped me greatly, Michel Brichard, Librarian of the Ordre des Avocats, who confided to me the precious documents held by the Ordre at the Paris Bar;

Monsieur Oliver, Justice of the High Court of Appeal, for having opened to me the library of the High Court of Appeal, and the staff of the Courts library for having facilitated my research;

Monsieur Drai, Presiding Justice of the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris, and Secretary General Canivet of the Tribunal, for having put at my disposal the Tribunals archives, and particularly the works and documents left by Andr Blumel;

Doctor Jean-Louis Dreyfus, Jeanne Dreyfuss son, Charles Dreyfus, Pierre Dreyfuss son, and Francine Beck, Mathieu Dreyfuss granddaughter, for having assisted me with their recollections, their documentation, and their review of my work. Madame Jeanne Lvy, Alfred Dreyfuss daughter, had already done much to enlighten me at the time of her death. Doctor Jean-Louis Lvy was willing to pursue that assistance to me with a measure of patience and intelligence to which I am deeply indebted. My very special thanks to him;

Renaud Fessaguet, who assisted me in my research from the first to the last day. Without his help, I would not have run the full course;

Madame Briquet and Madame Seck, who gave so freely of their time and intelligent devotion;

Madeleine Rebrioux, whose exceptional competence, attentive advice, and friendly lucidity added much to my account. She agreed to read large sections of this work, according me, up to the end, her invaluable support.

My friend Bernard de Fallois, who encouraged and advised me greatly. His opinions helped me to remedy several shortcomings in this work.

I cannot fail to evoke the memory of Pierre Mends-France . At a time when I hesitated to undertake this project, he encouraged me yet also warned me of its difficulties. Once begun, he sustained me with his friendship. Each of the conversations we had about the Affair opened new perspectives to me. This book, like all that I have tried to do, owes much to the light he shed.

I know all that this work of many years owes to tenderness, as well as what it owes to friendship. To be silent is not to forget.

Goult, June 26, 1983

PROLOGUE

Judas on Parade

(SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1895)

T he execution procession was scheduled, by government decree, for Saturday, January 5, at 8:45 a.m. in the principal courtyard of the cole Militaire on Place Fontenoy. Each regiment of the Paris garrison sent two units, one of soldiers in arms, the other of recruits. Diplomats and journalists were invited to view the spectacle. A section was reserved for the few notables who managed to attend the ceremony, flanked by two regiments. Since the public was not admitted, several thousand of the curious assembled outside the gates, along the trellis, or took to the roofs. The adjacent streets were jammed.