President De Gaulle’s Second Television Speech (1961)

Location: France Story of President Charles De Gaulle speaking about referendum on the future of Algeria. MS. President de Gaulle seated at his desk speaking: “Frenchmen, Frenchwomen, I ask you to give the project which is submitted to you an immense approval, first because it is good sense, but also for this reason, that the stake outgrows largely theoretical preferences, particular interests, partisan attachments, and that never was our national cohesion more necessary. If by misfortune the country’s answer was negative, or doubtful because of a small majority margin, or marked with many abstentions, what consequences would entail this impotence and this division. What stimulation would receive the adventure seekers on one part and the subversion partisan on the other. What backwash would be stirred up among the calms of doubt and hate and of degradation. In Algeria, how discouraged would reasonable men become.“ Note: This is the second of three television speeches given by De Gaulle FILM ID: