Jean Letourneau

Jean Letourneau
Letourneau in 1952
Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
In office 26 January 1946 – 16 December 1946
Preceded by	Eugène Thomas
Succeeded by	Eugène Thomas
Minister of Commerce
In office 22 January 1947 – 11 August 1947
Preceded by	André Diethelm (Commissaire)
Succeeded by	Robert Lacoste
Minister of Reconstruction and Urban Development
In office 9 May 1947 – 22 October 1947
Preceded by	Jules Moch
Succeeded by	René Coty
Minister of Overseas France
In office 29 October 1949 – 2 July 1950
Preceded by	Paul Coste-Floret
Succeeded by	Paul Coste-Floret
Minister of Information
In office 2 July 1950 – 12 July 1950
Preceded by	André Malraux
Succeeded by	Albert Gazier
Minister of State for Relations with Associated States
In office 12 July 1950 – 28 June 1953
Personal details
Born	(1907-09-18)18 September 1907 Le Lude, Sarthe, French Republic
Died	16 March 1986(1986-03-16) (aged 78) Paris, French Republic
Nationality	French
Occupation	Lawyer

Jean Letourneau (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ lətuʁno]; 18 September 1907 – 16 March 1986) 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 (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) against the communist movements in those countries. He was strongly anti-communist and in favor of maintaining French authority in the region.