Philippe Berthelot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jean-Baptiste Bienvenu-Martin, Philippe Berthelot and Wilhelm von Schoen. Baron von Schoen reads to M. Bienvenu-Martin, who is assuring interim for Foreign Affairs, a communication from his government backing Austria and declaring that is the conflict does not remain localised, "the most serious consequences" are to be feared.

Philippe Berthelot (Sèvres, Hauts-de-Seine October 9, 1866 – Paris, November 22, 1934) was an important French diplomat, son of Marcellin Berthelot. He was a republican (as opposed to monarchists at that time).

He entered the French diplomatic service in 1889 and joined the foreign office in 1904. In 1920, he became secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the rank of ambassador. He was forced to step aside from 1922-1925 because of his involvement in the scandal of the Banque Industrielle de Chine, controlled by his brother.

He was friends with, and important in the diplomatic careers of, Paul Claudel and Saint-John Perse. Bibliography

   Encyclopædia Britannica, 13th edition, 1922, s.v. Philippe Berthelot.

   The Living Age, 8th Series, Volume XXVII (July, August, September 1922), Boston, p 500. Available at Google Books

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The Banque Industrielle de Chine or Industrial Bank of China was chartered in 1913 and went bankrupt in 1922.[citation needed] Its Chinese office was in Shanghai and its European office in Paris. Its Chief Director was A.J. Pernotte, who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his part in the bankruptcy.

Philippe Berthelot whose brother André had lost vast sums trading in Chinese bonds was forced to resign from office when it was revealed that he had secretly lobbied for a bailout by sending telegrams on behalf of the President of the Council without his knowledge. He and Prime Minister Briand (who had supported the bailout) were excluded from public office for a decade following the scandal.