M. Marcel Sembat, who has died suddenly at Chamonix, was for many years a leading figure among the Parliamentary representatives of French Socialism. He was a great supporter of Jaurés in what may be called the heroic period of the party's existence. Since the war he had been the leader of the more conservative Socialists who refuse to drift with the Bolshevik stream. He was by no means typical demagogue. A highly educated man, a talented author and journalist, he was also a very effective speaker, employing humour, wit and sarcasm in preference to invective. During his long Pavliamentary career, he held office only once, as Minister of Public Works in the Viviani Cabinet from August, 1914, to October, 1915; but he was not a success, talents, being rather those of a Clemenceau in opposition. Having ample private means, he was often taunted with being that paradox, a millionaire Socialist, but this-did not prevent. him from being invariably elected by large majorities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.