Place Albert Sarrault

“Place Albert Sarrault,” you’ll say, glancing down at your map. “Anyone know why this place is named, well, Place Albert Sarraut?” You’ll pause for a second, allowing the question to hang in the air. This place, nestled in the heart of Athis-Mons, isn’t a place of great spectacle. Maybe it’s that very ordinariness that adds to its charm. Maybe it’s that this charming little square is named for an important figure. Albert Sarraut, a French Radical Socialist statesman. Yes, there he is. Sarraut was born in Bordeaux, and he was a man of many hats, serving as a lawyer, a senator, and even twice as prime minister. But it was his time as governor-general of Indochina that made him famous. As governor-general, Sarraut was known for his liberal policies. He believed that the native Indochinese should have more say in their own governance. He pushed for more natives in the civil service, recognizing the local languages and laws, and he continued the public works projects started by his predecessor – a man named Paul Doumer. But Sarraut wasn’t a radical in the modern sense of the word. He had a paternalistic view of the colonies: He believed the Vietnamese needed to become more “French” if they were to achieve independence. He was a man of his time, a time when colonial rule was the norm. Standing here in this peaceful square, it’s hard to imagine the man responsible for this place was at the head of colonial administration. What would Albert think if he saw this place today? He might be surprised at how his name has become so closely linked to this quiet, peaceful place. Perhaps he would be pleased to see the legacy of his name in this peaceful corner of France.