RECEPTION PARTY AWAIT DE GAULLE: DE GAULLE DISEMBARKS, GREETED AND TAKES SALUTE: DE GAULLE ON DAIS: INSPECTS TROOPS (NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT).




Initials GHB/SAT-TELE/RM/K



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Background: PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE LANDED IN THE HEART OF FRENCH-SPEAKING CANADA TODAY (SUNDAY) AND WAS SOON MINGLING WITH CROWDS, SHAKING HANDS AND EVEN LEADING THE SIGNING OF THE FRENCH NATIONAL ANTHEM. WELCOMING CROWDS HAD BOOED AND WHISTLED WHEN THE CANADIAN MILITARY BAND PLAYED CANADA'S ROYAL ANTHEM "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN".

QUEBEC OFFICIALS, ANXIOUS FOR THE FRENCH PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE A TRIUMPHAL WELCOME, HAD PREDICTED CROWDS TOPPING 250,000. BUT THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 1,000 AT THE QUAYSIDE WHEN HE STEPPED FROM THE FRENCH CRUISER COLBERT TO A 21-GUN SALUTE. THE TOTAL CROWD TO SEE THE PRESIDENT WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 30,000.

QUEBEC SEPARATISTS, DEMONSTRATING FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM ENGLISH-SPEAKING OTTAWA, CARRIED PLACARDS READING - "FREE QUEBEC" AND DECOLONISATION AND PEACE".

WEARING A GENERAL'S UNIFORM, THE PRESIDENT LANDED AT THE FOOT OF THE HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM WHERE BRITISH FORCES DISEMBARKED IN 1759.

HE WENT FIRST TO QUEBEC CITY HALL AND LATER DROVE 25 MILES (40 KMS) TO SAINT ANNE DE BEAUPRE, CANADA'S CELEBRATED RELIGIOUS SHRINE. VILLAGERS LINED THE ROUTE, WAVING THE TRICOLOUR AND CHEERING AS THE PRESIDENT PASSED.

IN HIS SPEECH AT THE CITY HALL, THE PRESIDENT EMPHASISED THE STRONG EMOTIONAL TIES BETWEEN FRANCE AND QUEBEC, URGING FRENCH CANADIAN TO JOIN IN THE ROLE THE FRENCH HAVE TO PALY IN THE WORLD.

DURING HIS FIVE DAYS VISIT, PRESIDENT DE GAULLE WILL ONLY ONCE LEAVE THE FRENCH-SPEAKING PART - ON THE FOURTH DAY WHEN HE VISITS OTTAWA.