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Acquisition Information
Preferred Citation
Biographical Note
Scope and Content of Collection
Title: Jacques Leprette papers
Date (inclusive): 1913-2006
Collection Number: 2006C17
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
French
Physical Description:
209 manuscript boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 1 folio
(85.2 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Speeches and writings, correspondence, notes, memoranda, reports, conference and meeting materials, printed matter, and audiovisual
material, relating to French foreign relations; French participation in the European Economic Community, European Union and
other European organizations; French participation in the United Nations and other international organizations; French relations
with other Francophone countries; international law; and human rights.
Creator:
Leprette, Jacques
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
Folio may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials
must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection,
they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2006.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Jacques Leprette papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
1920 |
Born, Alexandria, Egypt |
1940-1941 |
Mobilized and serves in French army |
1941 |
Evacuated to Algeria, where he studied law |
1943 |
Enlisted in Foreign Legion |
1944-1945 |
Landed with French forces in Provence. Wounded in the Battle of Belfort, then participated in campaigns in Alsace, Germany,
and Austria
|
1947 |
Author,
Le statut international de Trieste
|
|
Graduated from the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, Paris. Joined French foreign ministry as member of its European department |
1949-1952 |
Counselor, Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France |
1952-1955 |
Head, political division, French military government in Berlin, Germany |
1955-1959 |
First secretary, French embassy, Washington, D.C. |
1959-1961 |
Head of European Community affairs service, French foreign ministry, Paris, France |
1961-1964 |
French ambassador to Mauritania |
1964-1966 |
Director of interministerial liaison service, French information ministry, Paris, France |
1966-1971 |
Minister-counselor, French embassy, Washington, D.C. |
1971-1975 |
Director responsible for affairs concerning the United Nations and international organizations, French foreign ministry, Paris,
France
|
1975-1976 |
Associate director for political affairs, French foreign ministry, Paris, France |
1976-1982 |
French ambassador to the United Nations and permanent representative on the Security Council, New York City |
1982-1985 |
French ambassador to the European Community, Brussels, Belgium |
1984 |
Elevated to the rank of Ambassador of France |
1985-1989 |
Organized conferences and summit meetings relating to the international Francophone community |
1987 |
Awarded title of Commandeur, Legion d'Honneur |
1988-1990 |
French representative to U.N. Human Rights Commission, Geneva, Switzerland |
1994-1995 |
Author,
Une clef pour l'Europe. Book is awarded Prix des Ambassadeurs and Prix Jean Finot de l'Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques
|
1999 |
Elected member of the Institut de France, Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques |
2002 |
Awarded title of Grand officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite |
2004 |
Died |
Scope and Content of Collection
Acquired in 2006, the papers of Jacques Leprette document the life and professional activities of a senior French diplomat,
one whose long and distinguished career coincided with the evolution of a newly assertive French foreign policy in the decades
following World War II. Occupying a series of important posts, including that of French ambassador to the United Nations,
Leprette participated in a number of significant international negotiations and conferences. In particular, his work as a
diplomat focused on France's efforts to promote European integration; the role of the United Nations in international peacekeeping;
and cooperation among Francophone nations and communities. His papers also shed light on aspects of French political history,
especially in the mid-1960s.
Records relating to Leprette's service in the French military during World War II can be found in the
Military Career File. The
Academic Career File series contains materials relating to Leprette's study of law before and during World War II, as well as to his post-war
attendance at the prestigious École nationale d'administration, where he was a member of the first graduating class.
The
Speeches and Writings series includes Leprette's many articles and public talks on foreign affairs, as well as those specifically dealing with
the United Nations and the nature of international negotiations. This series also includes two monographs: Leprette's doctoral
thesis on the status of Trieste after World War II and his book on the construction of European unity,
Une clef pour l'Europe.
The
Ministère des Affaires Étrangères File groups materials relating to Leprette's various postings as a diplomat and his work as a foreign ministry official in Paris.
These materials include correspondence, speeches, and reports and are arranged chronologically under the headings of the specific
postings held by Leprette at the time.
Leprette's first posting was as a counselor involved in the negotiations that created the Council of Europe, and the papers
include a number of transcripts of the Council's proceedings. His next position was as head of the political department of
the French military government in Berlin. Among the materials from this posting are memoranda and bulletins concerning the
revolt of East German workers in June 1953, an important event in the early Cold War period.
A significant part of Leprette's subsequent career was spent in the United States, where he served twice at the French embassy
in Washington, D.C., first as counselor and then as minister-counselor. In these postings, Leprette was often called upon
to explain French foreign policy to American audiences, and the papers contain a number of his speeches on this subject. The
materials from these two periods also reveal Leprette's interest in, and appreciation of, American society.
Between his postings in Washington, Leprette served as French ambassador to Mauritania in the years immediately following
that country's achievement of independence from France. The papers include a number of reports on the internal situation in
Mauritania, including information on opponents of the Ould Daddah regime.
After working at the French foreign ministry as the director of its department for the United Nations and international organizations,
Leprette was named as French ambassador to the United Nations. His papers include extensive materials from his participation
in the activities of the United Nations, including negotiations on the status of Namibia, the role of U.N. peacekeeping forces
in Lebanon, and U.N. Security Council debates on the Iran-Iraq War.
Following his tenure at the United Nations, Leprette became France's ambassador to the European Community in Brussels. Materials
from this period include records of meetings and official visits, as well as a dossier made for Leprette in preparation for
France's presidency of the European Community in 1984.
One series (
Directeur, Service de Liaison Interministériel pour L'Information File) concerns Leprette's one posting outside of the French foreign ministry, when he worked for Alain Peyrefitte in the French
ministry of information. In this capacity, Leprette worked on the 1965 presidential re-election campaign of Charles de Gaulle,
and the series contains correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to the campaign. Peyrefitte remained a close friend
of Leprette's, and more of their letters can be found in the
Correspondence series.
The
Conferences, Seminars, and Official Visits File pertains to the many conferences attended by Leprette, including major ones devoted to relations among Francophone nations
and communities, and in which Leprette played a leading role. This series also includes extensive materials concerning seminars
on foreign policy at the Académie de la Paix in Monte Carlo and elsewhere.
Leprette's participation in a large number of associations and societies is reflected in the extensive
Organizations File. Among these are materials relating to Leprette's election to the Académie des Sciences morales et politiques and to honors
he received from the Legion d'Honneur and the Ordre national du Mérite. The series also includes materials relating to Leprette's
participation in the affairs of the Fondation et Institut Charles de Gaulle.
The papers also include a small series relating to the published works of Leprette's father, the author Fernand Leprette.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
International organization
Civil rights
International law
France
Diplomats -- France
European communities
France -- Foreign relations
French-speaking countries
United Nations
European Economic Community
European Union