Before discovering the entire speech given by Charles de Gaulle on the occasion of his visit to Quebec, here are all the explanations on the issues surrounding the expression “Vive le Québec libre”, which will have marked history.
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” Vit le Québec libre !” – Charles de Gaulle
Explanation of the phrase Vive le Quebec libre!
This phrase, uttered by Charles de Gaulle, has caused controversy.
On an official visit to Canada in 1967, in Montreal, the president of the French Republic dropped this phrase “Long live free Quebec!”
Charles de Gaulle thus expressed his support for the sovereignty of Quebec, causing the dismay of the government of Canada.
Quebec was a colony of La Nouvelle France from 1534 to 1763. Then it became a British colony until 1867. Over the next century, two political trends emerged in Quebec: sovereignist (which called for independence) and federalism (which wanted to remain in the confederation). Since 1960, there has been a lively debate about constitutional reform, with Quebec still recognized as a French-speaking nation.
De Gaulle’s
speechIt is an immense emotion that fills my heart when I see the French city of Montreal before me. In the name of the old country, in the name of France, I greet you with all my heart.
I will confide in you a secret that you will not repeat. Tonight here, and all along my route, I found myself in an atmosphere of the same kind as that of the liberation.
Besides that, I noticed what an immense effort of progress, of development, and consequently of emancipation you are accomplishing here, and it is to Montreal that I must say it, because, if there is in the world an exemplary city by its modern successes, it is yours. I say it is yours and I would like to add that it is ours.
If you only knew what confidence France, awakened after immense trials, has in you, if you only knew what affection she is beginning to feel again for the French of Canada, and if you only knew how much she feels obliged to contribute to your progress!
That is why she has concluded agreements with the Government of Quebec, with that of my friend Johnson, so that the French on both sides of the Atlantic work together on the same French project.
And, moreover, the assistance that France will lend here a little more every day, she knows that you will return it, because you are in the process of building elites, factories, companies, laboratories, which will amaze everyone and which, one day, I am sure, will allow you to help France.
That is what I have come to tell you this evening, and I would like to add that I take away an unforgettable memory from this unforgettable meeting in Montreal. The whole of France knows, sees and hears what is happening here and I can tell you that it will be better for it.
Long live Montreal! Long live Quebec! Long live free Quebec! Long live French Canada, and long live France!
Charles de Gaulle, from the balcony of Montreal City Hall, July 24, 1967
De Gaulle’s speech in English
It is an immense emotion that fills my heart seeing in front of me the French city of Montreal!
In the name of the old country, in the name of France, I salute you! I salute you with all my heart!
I will tell you a secret that you must not repeat. Here tonight, and all along my way, I have found myself in an atmosphere just like that of the liberation! And all along my way, moreover, I have noticed what immense effort of progress, of development, and consequently of emancipation you are accomplishing here and it is in Montreal that I must say it, because, if there is in the world a city exemplary for its modern successes, it is yours! I say it is yours and I allow myself to add, it is ours!
If you knew what confidence France, arisen after immense ordeals, now feels towards you, if you knew what affection she begins to feel again for the French people of Canada and if you knew how much she feels obligated to contribute to your march forward, to your progress. That is why she has concluded with the Government of Quebec, with my friend Daniel Johnson Sr., agreements, so that the French from both sides of the Atlantic can work together on one same French undertaking. And, indeed, the assistance that France will lend here, a little more every day, she well knows that you will return it, because you are in the process of setting up for yourselves elites, factories, companies, laboratories, that will astonish everyone and that, one day, I am sure, will allow you to help France.
This is what I have come to tell you tonight, adding that I will bring home from this incredible reunion of Montreal an unforgettable memory! The whole of France knows, sees, hears, what is happening here, and I may tell you that she shall be better from it!
Long live Montreal! Long live Quebec! Long live free Quebec! Long live French Canada! And long life France!
Charles de Gaulle, from the balcony of Montreal City Hall, July 24, 1967
