Jean Letourneau

Jean Letourneau was a French lawyer and politician. He was a lifelong Christian Democrat. During World War II (1939–45) he was active in the French Resistance. After the war he was a deputy in the national legislature from 1945 to 1956, and held various ministerial posts. His most important office was that of Minister, or Minister of State, for Relations with Associated States. He held office between 1950 and 1953. In this role he was responsible for policy in French Indochina during the struggle of the people of those countries for independence. He was strongly anti-communist and in favor of maintaining French authority in the region.