French President Charles de Gaulle
The Hôtel de Ville in Montréal, where De Gaulle delivered his controversial speech.
It was on this day back in 1967 that there was a major event that probably was not supposed to happen, and which felt a bit to me more like a spur of the moment thing, although I could be wrong.
Here's what happened: French President Charles de Gaulle declared "Vive le Québec libre !" ( which translates in English to 'Long live free Quebec!') before a large crowd assembled at the front of the Hôtel de Ville in Montréal on this day in 1967 towards the end of a speech. The speech was a part of his official visit to Canada for the Expo '67 World's Fair. He had put particularly emphasis on the word "libre," or free, which seemed to many to suggest that he actively supported Québec independence. Then, he canceled events he was scheduled for in Ottawa and instead returned back to France.
It might not have been planned, and indeed, it may have been a spur of the moment thing. Then again, it might not have been. After all, it seems difficult to imagine that a seasoned diplomat and politician like De Gaulle would not have had an inkling about the potential impact his speech might have. Also, it came on the anniversary of Jacques Cartier landing at what is not Gaspé and proclaiming this land for France, back on this day in 1534.
Maybe it was planned. According to the Wikipedia page for "Vive le Québec libre," this is what De Gaulle said on the return plane ride back to France:
On the flight home from Montreal, de Gaulle told René de Saint-Légier de la Saussaye—his diplomatic counsellor—that the event was "a historical phenomenon that was perhaps foreseeable but it took a form that only the situation itself could determine. Of course, like many others I could have got away with a few polite remarks or diplomatic acrobatics, but when one is General De Gaulle, one does not have recourse to such expedients. What I did, I had to do it."
Whether or not he intended his remarks to have the impact that they ended up having, his speech undeniably fueled a strong positive reaction by Québécois (Quebecers) who favored sovereignty from Canada, as it was regarded by many as De Gaulle showing his support for an independent Québec. However, he also received strong criticism from many Canadians and others for his actions. Then Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson pulled no punches about the speech, and said that de Gaulle's "statements were unacceptable to the Canadian people."
Nor was the negative response relegated to just one Canadian prime minister. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, the father of Justin Trudeau (the Prime Minister of Canada in the present day) had just been elected, and he also expressed disappointment. Here, according to the Wikipedia page for "Vive le Québec libre," is the story of the icy relations between Trudeau and De Gaulle which resulted after the speech:
The newly appointed Canadian Minister of Justice, Pierre Trudeau, publicly wondered what the French reaction would have been if a Canadian Prime Minister shouted, "Brittany to the Bretons".[15] From then on, de Gaulle remained unimpressed by Trudeau, saying "Nous n'avons aucune concession, ni même aucune amabilité, à faire à M. Trudeau, qui est l'adversaire de la chose française au Canada." ("We have not one concession, nor even any courtesy, to extend to Mr. Trudeau, who is the adversary of the 'French cause' in Canada.")[18] De Gaulle was also heavily criticized by a large part of the French media for his breach of international protocol, in particular by Le Monde.[19]
De Gaulle may have been dismissive of Trudeau's remarks, but I feel that Trudeau had made a valid point. Indeed, surely a speech by Trudeau, or another prominent foreign head of state, championing an independent Brittany would have received similar kinds of criticism, and probably from De Gaulle himself. De Gaulle might not have been impressed, but that does not detract from Trudeau's overall point.
Even in France, De Gaulle received a considerable amount of criticism for the speech. Still, relations between the two countries were a bit...well, uncomfortable for a few years after De Gaulle's speech. In fact, it remains a lightning rod right to the present day, in many respects. Some Québécois like the speech, and wanted to relive (and thus, honor) it on the 50th anniversary. Others - particularly English Canadians, understandably - have a much different take on it. To them, it feels irresponsible and intrusive. That it was more than a little undiplomatic by an iconic French leader, and amounted to active intruding in another country's affairs.
Clearly, it was a major event in Canadian, and Québécois, history. Many in Québec felt that their issue had finally gotten international recognition. And there was certainly a more Francophone nationalist spirit that took hold for a while in Québec. There have been referendums since, and one of them, back in 1995, nearly received a majority. And while Québec never did gain independence, it still feels quite different than the rest of the Canadian provinces in many ways. Some obvious, and some a little underneath the surface.
As evidence of this, I added a picture that I saw some years ago on approaching Québec City. I used to go up there many times, sometimes multiple times within a calendar year. Always wanted to take a picture of this sign, and finally did at some point. Here it is referred to as "La Capitale nationale," which means "national capital." This is a distinction which usually would be reserved for an official national capital, and which suggests that some Québécois indeed view it precisely in this way. Similarly, the Parliament of the province officially came to be designated as the "Assemblée nationale du Québec." That translates to the "National Assembly," which again, suggests that it is the government of a nation, and not merely a province. It also kinds of harkens a revolutionary spirit, given that the term "Assemblée nationale" had it's roots during the French Revolution. Perhaps the people who came up with the idea of calling it that hoped that it might help create a revolutionary and pro-independence spirit in Québec.
In any case, those are more or less cosmetic and symbolic things. The fact of the matter is that at least to this point, never have a majority of Québécois ever actually voted in favor of independence. In fact, momentum seems to have slowed considerably, even since that huge and historic referendum which nearly went through back in 1995.
That is why the speech by De Gaulle remains controversial and polarizing to this day.
It seemed like an interesting bit of history to recall on this anniversary of the famous - or perhaps infamous, depending on how you view it - speech.
Charles de Gaulle's infamous 'Vive le Québec libre' speech feted, 50 years on by Andrea Bellemare · CBC News · Posted: Jul 24, 2017:
Former French president made famous remarks from Montreal city hall balcony on July 24, 1967
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/charles-de-gaulle-speech-50th-annivesary-1.4218130
French President Charles de Gaulle
The Hôtel de Ville in Montréal, where De Gaulle delivered his controversial speech.
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