By Frederick Smith
Unpublished text
March 15, 1941, Elizabeth Miribel sent a telegram to General de Gaulle to announce the success of the mission Argenlieu " Success of your ambassador exceed all expectations - stop - Hot belief, radiant spirituality absolute sincerity, understanding delicate him win all hearts - stop - Wait for the better future - stop - Thank . The enthusiasm is palpable among the members of the France Libre de Quebec. On the evening of March 15 happens in Simard, and continues until two o'clock in the morning. It brings together French and French Canadians, more or less close to the committee so far.
The adjutant of the commander Argenlieu Alain Savary, appears also enthusiastic about the successes in the capital: " In Quebec, very emotional reception of the entire population [...] in all we felt a great love of France and a sincere joy of salute in the person of Commander Argenlieu the representative of France who continues to fight .
Catholic Action of March 15, 1941 informs its readers of a coffee reception at parliament in honor of Commander Argenlieu. We recognize in particular the Commander Argenlieu (first from left), Premier Adelard Godbout (Third), the Rector of Laval University Monsignor Camille Roy (fourth) and Professor Augustus Viatte (last photo).
OF Argenlieu Savary and continue their mission to Ottawa and Montreal, while continually returning to Quebec. In the federal capital, including D'Argenlieu talks with Prime Minister Mackenzie King, his minister of Justice, Ernest Lapointe, and Deputy Secretary of State for External Affairs, Norman Robertson. An agreement in principle was reached between the effluent of General de Gaulle and the Canadian government about sending a Canadian liaison officer in London with the Free French. Identity cards issued by the Free France will also now recognized.
The growing presence of the commander Argenlieu into the public seems to upset the French Consul in Montreal Courier, who complained to the Minister of Vichy in Ottawa, Rene Ristelhueber. Between March 26 and April 21, it identifies eleven speeches by Commander Argenlieu " oratorical activities which the press was copiously echo, publishing photographs, lists of guests, reports and analysis with the prodigality that is indiscreet use America. "
Gradually, the feelings of the Canadian government are warming towards the cause of General de Gaulle. Particularly warmer served by the Minister Ernest Lapointe to Argenlieu, while stating that the French-Canadian sensibilities compel the government to a certain restraint. It is nonetheless a victory for supporters of Free France, which justifies alone came from the commander Argenlieu.
Argenlieu The mission faces strong resistance, however, first in French in Montreal who did everything to delay or to cancel the mission of the envoy of General de Gaulle. They say the captain of Argenlieu he is arrogant and aloof, and we find abhorrent treatment reserved to Dr. William Vignal, stripped of his title as the official representative of De Gaulle in Canada. Argenlieu commander refused to share the dais with Dr. Vignal at a meeting organized by it and having collected 500 French Montreal. The treasurer of the Association of French veterans, Henry Delcellier, expressed his indignation to General de Gaulle in a letter: " We do not assume and do not see the rest of the reason we wanted to humiliate or simply offend a man who among us has the esteem and whose integrity is as well established as that of Dr. Vignal .
Then among the most conservative elements of French Canadian society, the resistance goes far beyond cries of "Vive Petain! "That greeted his father Carme off the train at Lévis in early March. An article by Doris Lussier, then a young associate of the journal The Right , creates quite a stir among the Gaullists in the province. This review has existed since January 1941, under the inspiration of Father Simon Arsenault brothers of St. Vincent de Paul. On 15 April, when the mission ends Argenlieu, Lussier violently attacked General de Gaulle and his collaborators in a new issue of the journal whose photograph of Marshal Petain graces the cover. The father also blames Arsenault opportunism of General de Gaulle, accoquiné Paul Reynaud, " socialist money man." Abbe Pierre Gravel, vicar of the parish of Saint-Roch, gives a lecture in the same direction. " The fifth column gives full ..." Augustus Viatte wrote in his diary.
Newspaper Coverage of the Right April 15, 1941. Articles by Doris Lussier and Father Arsenault set fire to the powder in the Gaullists of Quebec.
A cons-offensive is being prepared with the assistance of Commander Argenlieu. But it will eventually need since before the end of the month, The Right publication is prohibited by the State Secretariat. Cardinal Villeneuve himself had strongly admonished the father Simon Arsenault, and served as a warning to Father Gravel.
end of April 1941 Thierry d'Alain Savary Argenlieu and acknowledge that they have achieved most of their goals and prepare their return to England. A new representative office in Canada is about to be appointed to replace Dr Vignal, definitely packed because of his lack of leadership and its inefficiency. Colonel Jacques-Émile Martin Prével is the new representative. His wife and four young son being at Versailles, in occupied territory, it wants to spare them any possible retaliation for its new activities in the Free France. Martin Prével now borrow the pseudonym "Pierrené" merger of two of the name of his son.
Argenlieu The commander and his assistant Alain Savary finally returning to London on May 12 " They flew both yesterday, our ambassadors of Free France and I can not write if they are already far while remaining close , "writes Elizabeth Miribel Augustus Viatte. She adds that he found peace in the action with two months' radiant presence. " Its role is now defined: "As Ms. Simard you will probably say, Colonel General Pierrené represents G. for all of Canada and I report directly to him, although attached to order the Committee to Quebec, I mind propaganda throughout the country .
Having received clear instructions from London and the appointment of a new official with its inputs to the federal government, the Free French in Canada are now better equipped to counter the Vichy propaganda, since it is their primary mission.
Bibliography
Eric Amyot, Quebec between Pétain and de Gaulle. Vichy France and the French Canadians 1940-1945, Montreal: Editions Fides, 1999.
Archives of the Republic and Canton of Jura (ARCJ), Augustus Viatte Fund, 118 J 220. Letter dated May 13, 1941, Elizabeth Augustus Miribel Viatte.
Archives of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (AMAE), Series War 1939-1945, subseries Vichy America, Vol. 167. Letter dated April 22, 1941, Courser Ristelhueber.
amae War series 39-45, subseries London, Vol. 387. Letter written in April 1941, Henry Delcellier de Gaulle.
Jacques Lacoursière People's History of Quebec, Volume 4: 1896-1960, Sillery: north, 1997.
Elizabeth Miribel, freedom suffers violence, Paris: Plon, 1981.
Dale C. Thomson, De Gaulle and Quebec, Saint-Laurent: Robert Rose Publishing, 1990.
Viatte Augustus, one world to another ... Diary of an intellectual Jura in Quebec (1939-1949), Volume 1 (March 1939-November 1942), edited and introduced by Claude Hauser Quebec / Paris / Courrendlin : Les Presses de Université Laval / L'Harmattan / Éditions Communication and European Jura, 2001.
Jacques Lacoursière People's History of Quebec, Volume 4: 1896-1960, Sillery: north, 1997.
Elizabeth Miribel, freedom suffers violence, Paris: Plon, 1981.
Dale C. Thomson, De Gaulle and Quebec, Saint-Laurent: Robert Rose Publishing, 1990.
Viatte Augustus, one world to another ... Diary of an intellectual Jura in Quebec (1939-1949), Volume 1 (March 1939-November 1942), edited and introduced by Claude Hauser Quebec / Paris / Courrendlin : Les Presses de Université Laval / L'Harmattan / Éditions Communication and European Jura, 2001.
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