Consul De Gaulle's Press Address -- 1960
<De Gaulle> I come to you today at what I have stressed so many times before is only the opening chords of a concert that will continue throughout the rest of this era, these last few decades of the 20th century. It is the position of this government, it is my position and the position of His Imperial Majesty Napoleon IV, that fascism must direct this concert. It is the way forward, the only way forward, to the 21st century! We have been tasked with leading not only France, but the world, into the new era. I regard myself as not only the leader of France, but one of many leaders in the vanguard of the fascist revolution. And yes, friends, it is a revolution. The revolutionary spirit of fascism is the purest adherence to progress and advancement in human history, and we must maintain the revolutionary spirit here in France and across the world, or mankind will suffer the consequences. Knowing that the world, unknowing and slumbering in the throes of decadence and sloth, must some day come to account as to how it was liberated from its drudgery in the name of those few individuals that can truly say they benefit from "democracy" I open the floor to questions. You there.
<Reporter> What is your position, Excellency Consul, on the rising falangist movements in South America?
<De Gaulle> I am in full support of the fascist revolution, here and in South America. We, as the vanguard of this great struggle to reaffirm the fundamental tenets of our society, must do everything within our power to support our brothers in arms. This is not a kind world! We must be prepared to give our very lives for our nation, and I salute those in Colombia and other South American nations that have risen against the tyranny of socialism, for their willingness to do the same. However, I can confirm that my government has no intention of going to war in support of the South American fascist movements. We fight a constant and eternal war against decadence and socialism, and we must choose our battles. I will do everything in my power to support fascism, but it is not within my power to plunge France into wars whose potential losses outweigh their gains. The fundamentally fascist voice of the people was heard here in Europe, in France, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal, and abroad in Venezuela, Brazil, and South Africa. I am confident that ultimately, the voice of the people cannot be silenced, and the cries for fascism will ring out in the dawn light of South America. We shall be victorious, if not now, then soon. Next question.
<Reporter> What is the position of the government on the future of the French Thailand Protectorate?
<De Gaulle> As I stated in my address to the National Assembly announcing our intervention in Thailand, we have no intention of robbing the people of Thailand of their right to self-determination. They have more than earned their place among nations; however, we must act in their best interests and our own to ensure that Thailand does not become another outpost of the many-armed monster of communism in Asia. Full sovereignty and governance will be turned over to Thailand's native government once the communist threat has been purged from Thailand. Furthermore, I say again that the malcontents that have risen in Thailand's north are not the native citizenry. Our reports indicate that these subversives are communist transplants, who have whipped up the uninformed and the poor in northern Thailand against their rightful government, and those who would assist it. I will exercise the most extreme prejudice in eliminating this threat to Thailand's peace and freedom. And I will say to those in the international community who doubt our actions that France has always lead her people to greatness, and so as we have taken the noble people of Thailand under our wing, we shall lead them to greatness, too. Fascism will triumph in Thailand, as it will triumph in the Americas, and as it has triumphed in Europe. Next question.
<Reporter> Your Excellency, do you have any words for the American government, who recently announced their state of protection over the invalid Colombian government?
<De Gaulle> I do. I know that even across the great Atlantic Ocean, the voice of fascism rings out strong and clear, and I know that they will be heard by the Americans, who have so brutally and callously elected to support the oppression of the Colombian government over its own citizens. "The Land of the Free" indeed. I have said many times before that no people is free except within limits. The Americans, for all the foresight of their Founding Fathers, have done away with limits. Their "free" society has allowed for the rich and powerful to extort the national identity for their own purposes, and I promise you that as soon as it is no longer profitable for them to maintain the American "proxy empire" of puppet-states and regimes, they will disassemble it as quickly as the socialists would have disassembled our own empire. Despite this foolishness on the part of the American people, I know that the American government is not fool enough to believe that the Axis of Nations will permit the ignominy of the oppression of Colombian fascism to persist. I hope President Kennedy hears me today when I say that we do not need to go to war to ensure victory. We are fundamentally a people of peace, and through peace, we will achieve our goals. As the American patriots said "liberty or death" I say to you: fascism! Fascism or death!
<Reporter> Excellency Consul, how do you respond to the accusations of foreign news organizations that you are becoming too old to lead?
<De Gaulle> It is the last resort of someone who has become envious of your talents in leadership to call you too old to lead. I promise you that I will lead France until I have done everything I could for the cause of France and the cause of fascism, until the French people find someone who is more suitable to lead them in their pursuit of those goals, or until I die. I believe we have time for one more question.
<Reporter> What words of support can you offer to fascists in Colombia, and other areas where the cause is besieged?
<De Gaulle> Always remember that yours is the cause of the nation. We must all be prepared to give our lives for fascism, because we must all be prepared to give our lives for our nation. France demands nothing less, and I know that Colombia would want the same. Therefore, I give you the words of America's own beloved Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
Vive la France!
"Le fascisme! Fascisme ou la morte!"