A historical speech

Photo courtesy Archives, Montreal

The Journal

Saturday 22 jul 2017 00:00

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Saturday 22 jul 2017 00:00

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File Photo, AFP

The protocol did not provide for de Gaulle addresses the crowd. The general, however, would have insisted to go on the balcony, where someone had forgotten two mics plugged in, according to witnesses. The imposing head of State took the opportunity to embark on his soaring, lyrical, without notes.

On July 24, 1967, general Charles de Gaulle gave his historic speech from the balcony of the Montreal city hall, in front of a crowd of 15 000 people. Here is the text of his speech :

“It is an immense emotion that fills my heart in seeing before me the city of Montreal… French (standing ovation). In the name of the old country, in the name of France, I salute you. I greet you with all my heart ! I’m going to tell you a secret that you do not repeat not (laughter from the crowd). Here this evening, and all along my route, I found myself in an atmosphere of the same kind as that of the Release (long ovation from the crowd).

And all along my route, in addition to this, I have noticed what immense efforts of progress, of development, and therefore postage (standing ovation) you are doing here, and it is in Montreal that I must say (applause), because if there is in the world an exemplary city for its successes modern, it is yours (ovation) ! I say it is yours and I might add, it is ours (ovation) !

If you knew what confidence France woke up after great hardship, is now towards you. If you knew what affection she starts to feel for the French of Canada (ovation), and if you knew to what point she feels obliged to contribute to your forward to your progress ! This is why she has concluded with the government of Quebec, with that of my friend Johnson (ovation), agreements for the French of both sides of the Atlantic are working together on the same work in france (ovation).

And, moreover, the contest that France will, every day a little more, pay here, she knows well that you will, because you are trying to be elites, factories, companies, laboratories, which will be the astonishment of all and that, one day, I am sure, you will help France (ovation).

This is what I came to tell you tonight, adding that I take away from this meeting unheard-of Montreal an unforgettable memory. The whole of France knows, sees, hears, what is happening here and I can tell you that it will be better.

Vive Montreal ! Vive le Québec ! (standing ovation)

Vive le Québec… libre ! (very long standing ovation)

Long live French Canada ! And vive la France ! (standing ovation) “

 

Twelve defining moments in the life of general de Gaulle

1890

Born in Lille.

1916

During the First world War, his regiment was decimated at Douaumont, near Verdun, in the Meuse river. He was wounded, then taken prisoner by the Germans.

June 6, 1940

After several victorious battles at the head of the largest armored division, de Gaulle was appointed under-secretary of State for war and national Defense, a cabinet position. It should co-ordinate the war effort with Great Britain.

June 17, 1940

The new government of marshal Pétain requested an armistice to the Germans. De Gaulle joined London to lead the free French.

September 1944

The Allies win the war. Government of national unity in France under the leadership of general de Gaulle.

1946

He resigned from the French government.

May 1958

Of the coup they organize to maintain the French occupation in Algeria. They call for de Gaulle to power and threatens to lead a coup in France itself. The president Rene Coty gives the power to the general.

December 1958

De Gaulle elected first president of the ” Fifth Republic “, a new constitution, the presidential system fort that the French come to accept.

1959

After gestures favourable to the muslims, de Gaulle returned to the military crackdown in Algeria French. “Me alive, never the flag of the FLN does not will be flown to Algeria “, he says in Saida, in speaking of the national liberation Front, which is fighting for independence.

July 3, 1962

De Gaulle recognized the independence of Algeria.

July 24, 1967

De Gaulle pronounced his famous ” Vive le Québec libre “, causing an intense joy in independence, and a severe diplomatic crisis with Canada.

November 9, 1970

De Gaulle died at Colombey-les-deux-Churches, in the Haute-Marne, in the north-east of France, at the age of 79 years.

 

The general was to the a Journal every day during his visit to quebec

 

When Quebec saw great

As he wrote at the beginning of his Memoirs, the Great Charles had ” a certain idea of France “.

Click this link to read the chronicle of Richard Martineau

Archival Photo of the City of Montreal

General de Gaulle pronounced the famous speech ” Vive le Québec libre “, under the stupefaction of mayor Jean Drapeau.

 

50 years later, a Quebec that is more free?

“Vive le Québec libre!” Agreed, my general. But still?

Click this link to read the text of Hugo Joncas

File Photo, Jean-Paul Dedde and André Gingras

De Gaulle is acclaimed by the crowd, made his entrance to the city hall of Quebec city, at the beginning of his journey.

Archival Photo, André Gingras

An enthusiastic audience was in a hurry from all sides to greet her.

 

A general if “particular”

Almost no one has seen the two documentaries on the visit of general de Gaulle in Quebec in 1967.

Click this link to read the chronicle of Guy Fournier

File Photo, Jean-Paul Dedde and André Gingras

General De Gaulle addresses the crowd gathered before him in Repentigny.

Photo courtesy, TV5

The car of De Gaulle and prime minister Daniel Johnson is slowly progressing to the city hall of Montreal.

 

De Gaulle and the “Québec question”

What else is there to say about the famous “Vive le Québec libre” of general de Gaulle, launched from the balcony of the Montreal city hall ?

Click this link to read the chronicle of Fatima Houda-Pepin

Photo archive

General de Gaulle visited Expo 67 in the margin of his visit to Montreal, the day after his speech from the balcony of the town hall. As to be forgiven of Ottawa, he said ” Vive le Canada “… but it went a little unnoticed.

Photo archive

 

Yesterday, the freedom

The general would not have sown so much excitement if it had not had before him the audience receptive, which carburait the desire for freedom.

Click this link to read the chronicle of Réjean Parent

Photo archive

 

A bit more free

Financially speaking, the Quebec of today has no common measure with Quebec in 1967. But…

Click this link to read the chronicle of Michel Girard

Archival Photo of the City of Montreal

The general of Gaulle on the rear terrace of the Montreal city hall, in the company of several dignitaries, including Lucien Saulnier, chairman of the executive committee of the Communauté urbaine de Montréal, by cardinal Paul-Émile Léger and the prime minister Daniel Johnson.

 

To hear again the call of general de Gaulle

Fifty years ago, on July 24, 1967, general de Gaulle was living in Quebec a historic day.

Click this link to read the chronicle of Mathieu Bock-Côté

Archival Photo of the City of Montreal

The protesters in independence on the Champ-de-Mars, behind city hall, on July 24, 1967.

Archival Photo of the City of Montreal

De Gaulle, mayor Jean Drapeau and premier Daniel Johnson (back).

 

To do or to suffer his destiny?

Quebec is more free today than it was in 1967, at the time of the famous visit of general de Gaulle?

Click this link to read the chronicle of Joseph Facal

Archival Photo, André Gingras

The prime minister Daniel Johnson welcomes Charles de Gaulle to its arrival in the port of Quebec, to board the Colbert, a ship-cruiser of the French army.

Archival Photo, André Gingras

De Gaulle gets off the Colbert.

 

Hope disenchanted

The sovereigntist movement is more than a shadow of itself.

Click this link to read the chronicle of Josée Legault

File Photo, Jean-Paul Dedde and André Gingras

The limousine slowly made its way through the jubilant crowd. Admirers of all ages, approaching to shake her hand.

File Photo, Jean-Paul Dedde and André Gingras

De Gaulle salutes the crowd all along its progression on the chemin du Roy between Quebec city and Montreal.

 

I remember

My parents worshipped as a cult in France, and the great Charles.

Click this link to read the chronicle’s Lise Ravary

File Photo, Jean-Paul Dedde and André Gingras

 

De Gaulle, the champion of the freedom of the peoples

A man of vision and courage, he enjoyed an immense prestige in 1967.

Click this link to read the chronicle of Éric Bédard

Archival Photo of the City of Montreal

General de Gaulle goes up in an airplane of Air Canada at Dorval airport to return in France… without having set foot in the federal capital. The Newspaper title in a : “There is a party in fucking Ottawa “.

 

The “discourse of Ottawa”… never delivered

After his “Vive le Québec libre!” on the balcony of the Montreal city hall, the general is no longer welcome in the federal capital.

Click this link to read the text of Hugo Joncas

 

♦ Thanks to Archives of Montréal for its collaboration to the special booklet on the visit of general de Gaulle