Modern History Sourcebook:
Charles de Gaulle, French Premier:
Speech at Constantine, Algeria, October 3, 1958
Last Sunday, three and a half million men and women of Algeria, without distinction of
community, in complete equality, gave France and myself their vote of confidence. They did
this quite simply without any constraint and in spite of the threats that certain fanatics
brought to bear against them, their families and their property. This is a fact, as clear
as the bright light of clay. And this fact is fundamental not only because it mutually and
forever pledges, one to the other, Algeria and France, but also because it ties in with
what happened that same day in Metropolitan France, in the Overseas Departments, in the
Territories of the Community.The least that can be said of this great demonstration is that the French people proved
to themselves and to the entire world their determination for renovation, and that, at the
same time, a hundred million men decided to build their future together in Liberty,
Equality and Fraternity.With regard to Algeria, what is the future to which France is calling her? Women and
men of Algeria, I have come here to tell you what it is.What must be achieved is the basic transformation of this country, so brave, so alive,
but also so full of difficulties and suffering. This means that it is necessary for the
living conditions of each man and woman to improve from day to day. This means that, for
the benefit of the inhabitants, the resources of the earth and the ability of the elites
must be brought to light and developed. This means that children must be taught. This
means that all Algeria must have her share in what modern civilization can and must bring
to men in terms of well-being and dignity.But the loftiest plans call for practical measures. Here are the measures that my
Government intends to take in the near future covering the next five years by virtue of
the full powers that the new Constitution has just conferred upon it.During these five years, of the young people in Metropolitan France - yes, I say in
Metropolitan France-that enter the service of the State, in the Administration, in the
Army, in education and in the public services, at least a tenth of these young people must
be recruited from the Arab, the Kabyle and Mozabite communities, and that without
prejudice to an increased proportion of Algerians serving in Algeria.In the course of these five years, salaries and wages in Algeria will be raised to a
level comparable to what they are in Metropolitan France.Before the end of these five years, 250,000 hectares [617,500 acres] of new land will
be allotted to Moslem farmers.Before the end of these five years, the first phase of the plan for the agricultural
and industrial development of Algeria will be brought to its conclusion. This phase
includes, in particular, the delivery and the distribution of the oil and gas of the
Sahara, the setting up, on this soil, of great metallurgical and chemical complexes, the
construction of housing for a million people, the corresponding development of health
services, of roads, ports, means of communication-in short, the regular employment of
400,000 new workers.Gradually in the course of these five years, two-thirds of the girls and boys will be
enrolled in school and, during the three years after that, complete school enrollment of
all Algerian youth will be achieved.During these five years, the human contact that has been made especially by the French
Army-by its career officers, its reserve officers, its fighting men, its young
conscripts-will be continued and developed and, in Metropolitan France, the same must be
true, in Paris and n our provinces.What will be the political Consequences of this evolution which calls for very
extensive and prolonged efforts? I believe it is quite useless to freeze in advance, in
words, that which, in any event, is going to take shape, little by little, as it is
undertaken. But, in any case, two things arc certain as of now: the first concerns the
present.In two months, Algeria will elect her representatives under the same conditions as will
Metropolitan France. But at least two thirds of her representatives will have to be Moslem
citizens.The other refers to the future. The future of Algeria will in any event - because that
is the nature of things-be built on a double foundation: her personality and her close
solidarity with Metropolitan France.In any case, it is absolutely essential that this fruitful transformation be
accomplished. This is necessary for the good of the men of Algeria, for the good of the
women, for the good of the children who live here; but it is also necessary for the honor
of mankind. It is necessary for the peace of the world. For no one has any interest in the
stagnation of a people, except the kind of people, who, to serve their ambitions, gamble
on the spirit of revolt and the poverty of others.This transformation, this immense political, economic, social and cultural task-who
could effect this transformation, if not France?Now it happens that France has the will and the means to do so. It also happens that
the vote of the Algerians has just proved that they desire this transformation and that it
should be carried out with France.Therefore, turning toward those who are prolonging a fratricidal conflict, who are
organizing lamentable attacks in Metropolitan France, or who are spreading through the
chancelleries, through underground dens, by means of the radios and the newspapers of
certain foreign capitals-vilifications of France, to those I say: Why kill? We must enable
people to live. Why destroy? Our duty is to build. Why hate? We must cooperate.Stop this absurd fighting and you will at once see a new blossoming of hope over all
the land of Algeria. You will see the prisons emptying; you will see the opening up of a
future big enough for everybody, and for you yourselves in particular. And then, speaking
to those States which are throwing oil on the fire here while their unhappy peoples writhe
under dictatorships, I say: Could you do what France is in a position to do here, what
only France is capable of doing? Could you people do it? No. Then let France carry on,
unless you deliberately decide to envenom the conflict in order to distract attention from
your own difficulties. But in the present state of the world, where can these bitter
incitements lead if not to a universal cataclysm? Only two paths lie open to the human
race today: war or brotherhood. In Algeria as everywhere, France, for her part, has chosen
brotherhood.Long live the Republic! Long live Algeria and long live France!
Source:Premier de Gaulle's speech was made available in translation through the courtesy of
the Information Service of the French Embassy in New York.
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© Paul Halsall, July 1998
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