The Opening of the Délégation générale du Québec in Paris - The Beginning of a New Era

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Arrival in France of Jean Lesage and his team for the official inauguration of the Maison du Québec in Paris on October 5, 1961.
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	Wednesday October 4, 1961 the Honourable Jean Lesage, Premier of the Province of Quebec, and Mrs. Lesage arrive in Orly where French Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs, George Gorse and Mr. Pierre Sirot Chief of Protocol at the Quai D'Orsay welcome them.
	Upon his arrival in Paris, Mr. Lesage went to the Élysée Palace where he was honoured with a full ceremonial welcome from President Charles de Gaulle where he was honoured with a full ceremonial welcome from President Charles de Gaulle.
	A few minutes before meeting with the President of the Republic Mr. Lesage exchanged with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Maurice Couve de Murville.
	Leaving the Quai d'Orsay Mr. Lesage declared: between French-speaking Canadians and the French I was charmed by the feelings of warmth and friendship felt during our relations.
	Mr. Lesage conversed for half an hour with President De Gaulle at the Élysée Palace.
	Thursday October 5, at 11 a.m., Mr. Lesage inaugurated the Délégation Générale in the presence of French Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mr. André Malraux, the Ambassador of Canada to Paris, the Honourable George Émile Lapalme, and several hundred guests.
	In his inaugural speech, Mr. Lesage stated, and I quote: "Exactly two hundred years ago you intiated the process of repatriating the French in Canada to metropolitan France.
	The France of 1761 withdrew from North America.
	Two centuries later we bear witness to the perpetuation of the French fact in North American territory.
	To date, our geographic and historic situation has forced us to become what we are, henceforth, we want to be what we want to become.
	In other words, French Canadians have become aware of themselves and their place in the world today.
	It is to better occupy the place that we have and by establishing a presence in Paris, we have chosen to be at the centre of European concerns." End of quote.