Jules Cambon

Jules Cambon began as a lawyer and entered public administration after the Franco-Prussian War. He served in Algeria and as prefect in northern France and the Rhône before becoming governor-general of Algeria in 1891. His older brother Paul also became an ambassador. Jules became ambassador in Washington in 1897. ¹

During the Spanish-American War, Cambon served as an intermediary for Spain. On 12 August 1898 he notified Secretary of State William Day that Madrid had given him authority to sign the agreed preliminary peace protocol, and that France had authorized him to accept that role. His letter also conveyed Spain's hope that Washington would restrain attacks by Cuban separatist forces once hostilities stopped. ²

Cambon and Day signed the protocol that day. It required Spain to relinquish sovereignty over Cuba, provided for the cession of Puerto Rico and other territory, and left the final disposition of the Philippines for the peace negotiations. It suspended hostilities and arranged the Paris conference that would produce the final treaty. ³

He later represented France in Madrid and Berlin, where he negotiated during the Agadir crisis of 1911. After the First World War he took part in the peace settlement and chaired the Conference of Ambassadors. Elected to the Académie française in 1918, he drew on his professional experience in Le Diplomate. He died in 1935. ¹