Pierre Louis Albert Decrais (18 December 1838 – 27 February 1915) was a French lawyer, administrator, diplomat and politician who was a deputy from 1897 to 1903, then a senator from 1903 to 1915.

He resigned on 19 May 1877 in protest against the selection of Albert, 4th duc de Broglie as prime minister.

From 4 February 1882 to 11 November 1882 he was director of political affairs at the Foreign Ministry under the 2nd cabinet of Charles de Freycinet.

[4] The colonial governors were often hostile to concessions where the companies were only concerned with maximizing profit, and which were harmful in the long run.

[5] In October 1899 Decrais reorganized the Sudan so that the southern cercles were attached to the coastal colonies.

[6] On 11 December 1899 the Catholic deputy Jules Auguste Lemire spoke in the Chamber on the persistent slave trade, particularly in women.

[7] Soon after he wrote a strongly worded letter to all governors in which he said, It is important then to the progress of civilization and the honor of our country that natives are led to completely renounce the practice of slavery in all territories over which our control is established.

It is especially important that the slave trade, their export from one country to another, confront a surveillance and a repression of such severity that where it still exists, it disappears as soon as possible.

I do not need to add that I rely on your prudence and experience, to consider in the measures you will have to take, the temperament, the customs and the traditions of the natives placed under your administration.

Decrais received a cable from senator Amédée Knight on 7 May 1902 that said serious damage had been done and asked for humanitarian help.

To intervene at the behest of a party leader would have slighted the governor's authority and could have been interpreted as action for political gain.