New friends Cameron and Sarkozy honour legacy of Charles de Gaulle

Published on Friday 18 June 2010 22:56

DAVID Cameron hailed Britain's enduring relationship with France yesterday when he joined Nicolas Sarkozy in marking the anniversary of a key moment in the Second World War.

• David Cameron (L) and his wife Samantha wait in anticipation for French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to arrive, on the steps of 10 Downing Street. Pic:AFP

The French president was in London to commemorate 70 years since General Charles de Gaulle's radio broadcast from the capital urging his nation to resist the Nazi occupation.

"Just as our two great countries stood together in the past, so we must stand shoulder to shoulder today," the Prime Minister declared during one of a series of ceremonies.

"This is not just some ceremonial friendship, it is a working relationship. We face huge challenges today – from the conflict in Afghanistan to the economic crisis to climate change – and I am committed to working with President Sarkozy, working with France to tackle them," Mr Cameron said.

Mr Sarkozy, the first French leader to mark the anniversary in London, visited the studio at BBC Broadcasting House where de Gaulle's original appeal was made on 18 June, 1940.

The rallying cry came the day after Marshal Philippe Ptain's government announced its surrender to the Germans, but few Frenchmen actually heard de Gaulle declare that "the flame of French resistance must not and will not be extinguished".

Further broadcasts in the following days led to de Gaulle becoming so well-known, however, that he was subsequently court-martialled in his absence and sentenced to death for treason.

The Prince of Wales and the French president laid wreaths at the statue of the general in Carlton Gardens – near the office previously used as the headquarters of the Free French.

The prince's wreath said: "In special memory of Franco-British solidarity 70 years ago."

A French trumpeter then sounded the Last Post and a minute's silence was observed before the RAF band played a refrain from Le Marseillaise.

Mr Sarkozy was met by the Prime Minister at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where they were greeted by a flypast of a Spitfire, a Typhoon and a French air force Rafale.

A crowd of 1,600 watched Mr Sarkozy award the Legion d'Honneur to six Second World War veterans, three of them British, who took part in the Operation Dragoon landings in Provence in August 1944.

Mr Sarkozy said he was "happy and proud" to be in Britain and joked that the "lovely London sunshine" was "not so usual".

"By recognising (Gen de Gaulle's] legitimacy, Britain made known forever that … the only true France could be that France which had not stooped to betrayal, the only true France was that that had the will to fight on, the only true France was that which did not accept defeat," he said.

The president's wife, Carla Bruni, in a grey shift dress and black kitten heels, sat next to Sarah Cameron on the front row to watch the leaders make speeches.

Mrs Cameron, wore a black and white dress with black heels noticeably higher than those of the singer and former model.

The wives got on so well that Ms Bruni did not have any qualms in leaning over to swipe a fly from Mrs Cameron's chest during the speeches.

The Prime Minister's wife seemed slightly surprised, but smiled and said "thank you".

A Downing Street spokesman said the Camerons and the Sarkozys had a "very warm" meeting at No 10 over lunch of roast fillet of Cornish sea bass and a baked lemon tart.

Conversation at the table centred on pressing "shared priorities" such as Afghanistan, maternal mortality – and the fortunes of the two nations' football teams at the World Cup.

France suffered a disastrous defeat to Mexico last night.

"While this was most of all an opportunity to build personal relationships further, there was a discussion of shared priorities," a Downing Street spokesman said.

'War is not limited to our unfortunate country'

HERE is a translation of the full text of General de Gaulle's broadcast on 18 June, 1940.

THE leaders who, for many years past, have been at the head of the French armed forces have set up a government.

"Alleging the defeat of our armies, this government has entered into negotiations with the enemy with a view to bringing about a cessation of hostilities.

"It is quite true that we were, and still are, overwhelmed by enemy mechanised forces, both on the ground and in the air. It was the tanks, the planes, and the tactics of the Germans, far more than the fact that we were outnumbered, that forced our armies to retreat. It was the German tanks, planes, and tactics that provided the element of surprise which brought our leaders to their present plight.

"But has the last word been said? Must we abandon all hope? Is our defeat final and irremediable? To those questions I answer 'no'.

"Speaking in full knowledge of the facts, I ask you to believe me when I say that the cause of France is not lost. The very factors that brought about our defeat may one day lead us to victory.

"For, remember this, France does not stand alone. She is not isolated. Behind her is a vast empire, and she can make common cause with the British empire, which commands the seas and is continuing the struggle. Like England, she can draw unreservedly on the immense industrial resources of the United States.

"This war is not limited to our unfortunate country. The outcome of the struggle has not been decided by the battle of France. This is a world war. Mistakes have been made, there have been delays and untold suffering, but the fact remains that there still exists in the world everything we need to crush our enemies some day.

"Today we are crushed by the sheer weight of mechanised force hurled against us, but we can still look to a future in which even greater mechanised force will bring us victory. The destiny of the world is at stake.

"I, General de Gaulle, now in London, call on all French officers and men who are at present on British soil, or may be in the future, with or without their arms; I call on all engineers and skilled workmen from the armaments factories who are at present on British soil, or may be in the future, to get in touch with me.

"Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must not and will not be extinguished.

"Tomorrow I shall broadcast again from London.