The ‘Algerian Republic’ phrase destroyed the francisation pillar.

Evidence

But, as Tricot noted, it meant the disappearance of “one of the elements of the triptych, francisation”. Reactions were tempestuous. Debré, says de Gaulle, “could not hide his chagrin” — which was an understatement. After all he had been required to say in the name of francisation, Debré in fact felt compelled to offer his resignation that day. De Gaulle who privately called Debré his “Saint Sebastian” — “every time he receives an arrow, he suffers, but that gives him pleasure!” — waved it aside, saying, “No, Debré; remain I still have need of you.” Debré remained. The next day de Gaulle’s comrade-in-arms and friend of fifty years standing, Marshal Juin, broke with him publicly, accusing de Gaulle of “deserting our Algerian brothers”. In Madrid, Claude Paillat recalls watching the “Mandarin”, Salan, perform a curious pas seul in an attempt to tune a minute transistor radio he was clutching in the palm of his hand. As de Gaulle’s speech came feebly through, he grunted “Oh! Oh!” on deciphering the words “Algerian Republic”. Afterwards he declared to the Press, “from now on, every man must face up to his responsibilities…the time for evasions is over” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1287 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

It was, he explains, designed to appear “full of resolution and assurance”, because recent bitterness marking the budget discussions for the first time since 1958 had been taken by him to be “an indication of the intense impatience and anxiety of the French people”. But what he said about Algeria was to take developments one vital stage further, showing that he was determined to execute his ideas at a faster pace. Having assumed the leadership of France, he had embarked upon “a new course” leading, he explained “from government of Algeria by metropolitan France to an Algerian Algeria. That means an emancipated Algeria…an Algeria which, if the Algerians so wish — and I believe this to be the case — will have its own government, its own institutions, its own laws”. Later he slipped in a reference to “an Algerian Republic, which will one day exist, but has never yet existed”. As so often with de Gaulle’s more controversial and decisive utterances, there was an element of the impromptu about this first pronouncing of the fateful words, “an Algerian Republic”. They had not figured in the typescript; de Gaulle, as was his wont had added them in as he went along. Tricot — in common with the other Elysée advisors — thought the words “bad and dangerous”. Pressed by them, de Gaulle enquired whether — since the broadcast was pre-taped — it would be possible to delete the offending phrase. The technicians replied that the radio broadcast could be doctored, yes, but there would be no time to re-record the television programme. De Gaulle supposedly then shrugged his shoulders, saying: “Well, in that case, let it stand.” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1286 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: De Gaulle’s Algerian Republic speech ruptured the francisation triptych and his allies — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1287; De Gaulle first pronounced the fateful phrase Algerian Republic impromptu — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1286; Francisation destroyed Algeria’s native political cadres, leaving no negotiating partners.

Related

• De Gaulle’s Algerian Republic speech ruptured the francisation triptych and his allies (similarity 0.93)
• De Gaulle first pronounced the fateful phrase Algerian Republic impromptu (similarity 0.92)
• De Gaulle improvised the phrase ‘Algerian Republic’ on air. (similarity 0.90)
• Francisation destroyed Algeria’s native political cadres, leaving no negotiating partners. (similarity 0.81)
• De Gaulle’s allies saw Algeria as subordinate to the French state’s crisis (similarity 0.79)
• De Gaulle’s republic declaration collapsed the colonial administration’s credibility (similarity 0.79)
• De Gaulle took power in June 1958 offering no Algerian solution. (similarity 0.79)
• Algeria was only one element of de Gaulle’s larger ambitions. (similarity 0.78)
• France’s nuclear modernization coincided with the last troops leaving Algeria (similarity 0.78)
• De Gaulle’s speech rallied France through timing and tone, not new content (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• De Gaulle’s Algerian Republic speech ruptured the francisation triptych and his allies #corroborates (0.90) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1287
• De Gaulle first pronounced the fateful phrase Algerian Republic impromptu #expands (0.60) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1286
• Francisation destroyed Algeria’s native political cadres, leaving no negotiating partners. #corroborates (0.55)