“This a British country. Down with the disloyal French half-breeds" Montreal, July 24 1937
318. Further Historical Mention of “French Half-Breeds” in Québec: This folder contains a copy of the Saturday, July 24, 1937 issue of the Montréal, Québec newspaper entitled, “Le Devoir.” The importance of this issue lies in an article found on page 01, which is properly entitled, “S’il y avait la guerre... Comment cela se passerait, d'après la doctrine de M. King” and was written by a man named Georges Pelletier.
Before I begin my discussion concerning “S’il y avait la guerre... Comment cela se passerait, d'après la doctrine de M. King,” I will first provide a bit of biographical information concerning its author, Georges Pelletier. According to an online biography of Mr. Pelletier found in the description of the “Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec’s” (BAnQ) record collection entitled, “Fonds: Georges Pelletier . - 1910-1947” (see http://pistard.banq.qc.ca/unite_chercheu…/description_fonds…):
“Pelletier, Georges (pseudonymes : Paul Dulac, Patrice Grandville, Pierre Kiroul, Pierre Labrosse, Jean Labrye, Pamphile, Paul Poirier, André Verbois). Avocat, journaliste, professeur et administrateur. Rivière-du-Loup (Québec), 10 juillet 1882 - Montréal (Québec), 20 janvier 1947. Fils de Narcisse-Georges Pelletier et de Caroline Vézina; marié à Corinne Adam, le 11 septembre 1923; décédé sans enfant. Études au Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, cours classique et commercial, baccalauréat ès arts, 1892-1901; Université Laval (Québec), licence en droit, 1901-1904. Admis au Barreau de la province de Québec, juillet 1904. Il exerce le droit à Rivière-du-Loup jusqu'en 1908 et se consacre ensuite au journalisme, d'abord à l'hebdomadaire régional de Rivière-du-Loup Le Saint-Laurent, puis à L'Action sociale catholique de Québec pour laquelle il est rédacteur, puis correspondant politique à Ottawa (1908-1910). Il entre ensuite au quotidien montréalais Le Devoir où il occupe de nombreuses fonctions : rédacteur parlementaire à Ottawa, 1910-1915; secrétaire de la rédaction, 1915-1923; administrateur-gérant, 1924-1932; directeur, 1932-1947. Professeur de journalisme à la Faculté des sciences sociales, économiques et politiques de l'Université de Montréal (1921-1944), il y donne aussi des cours sur la psychologie et l'évolution des sociétés anglo-saxonnes (1940). Il est également secrétaire et membre du conseil d'administration de l'Imprimerie populaire limitée, 1919-1947; membre fondateur et secrétaire du Cercle universitaire de Montréal, 1920-1936; membre de la Société immobilière du Cercle universitaire de Montréal, 1925-1947; coadministrateur de la succession Tancrède Bienvenu, 1931-1947; directeur au conseil de la Presse canadienne, 1939-1947; membre du comité directeur de la Ligue pour la défense du Canada, 1942. Il joue un rôle actif au sein de la Fédération des oeuvres de charité canadiennes-françaises et de la Canadian Daily Newspaper Association. Distinctions honorifiques : membre de la Société royale du Canada, 1919; doctorat honorifique en science politique (Université de Montréal, 1940). Publications : L'immigration canadienne, 1913; Tout est cher - pourquoi? (1910-1917), 1917; Silhouettes d'aujourd'hui (sous le pseudonyme de Paul Dulac), 1927; Comment se fait le Devoir (en collaboration), 1935; nombreux articles parus dans divers journaux et revues, dont L'Action française, L'Action sociale catholique, Le Devoir, La Revue trimestrielle canadienne et Le Saint-Laurent. Sources : Bio-bibliographie de M. Georges Pelletier, avocat, journaliste, directeur du Devoir / Virginie Pelletier; Le Devoir, 21 janv. 1947, p. 1; Dictionnaire des oeuvres littéraires du Québec / sous la direction de Maurice Lemire. - T. II, p. 1015-1017; Pseudonymes québécois / Bernard Vinet. - p. 333; La Revue du Barreau de la province de Québec, t. 7, no 2 (févr. 1947), p. 86-87.”
Which loosely translates to:
“Pelletier, Georges (pseudonyms: Paul Dulac, Patrice Grandville, Pierre Kiroul, Pierre Labrosse, Jean Labrye, Pamphile, Paul Poirier, André Verbois). Lawyer, journalist, professor and administrator. Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, July 10, 1882 - Montreal, Quebec, January 20, 1947. Son of Narcisse-Georges Pelletier and Caroline Vézina; married to Corinne Adam, September 11, 1923; died without children. Studies at the College of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, Classical and Commercial Class, Bachelor of Arts, 1892-1901; Laval University (Quebec), degree in law, 1901-1904. Admitted to the Bar of the Province of Quebec, July 1904. He practiced law in Rivière-du-Loup until 1908 and then devoted himself to journalism, first at the Rivière-du-Loup regional weekly Le Saint- Laurent, then at the Catholic Social Action of Quebec for which he is editor, then political correspondent in Ottawa (1908-1910). He then joined the Montreal daily Le Devoir, where he held numerous positions: Parliamentary Editor in Ottawa, 1910-1915; secretary of the editorial board, 1915-1923; managing director, 1924-1932; director, 1932-1947. Professor of journalism at the Faculty of Social, Economic and Political Sciences of the University of Montreal (1921-1944), he also gives courses on the psychology and evolution of Anglo-Saxon societies (1940). He is also secretary and member of the board of directors of the People's Printing Limited, 1919-1947; founding member and secretary of the Cercle universitaire de Montréal, 1920-1936; member of the Real Estate Society of the University Circle of Montreal, 1925-1947; co-director of the estate Tancrède Bienvenu, 1931-1947; Director on the Canadian Press Council, 1939-1947; member of the executive committee of the Defense League of Canada, 1942. He plays an active role in the Federation of French Canadian Charities and the Canadian Daily Newspaper Association. Honors: Member of the Royal Society of Canada, 1919; Honorary Doctorate in Political Science (University of Montreal, 1940). Publications: Canadian Immigration, 1913; Everything is expensive - why? (1910-1917), 1917; Silhouettes of today (under the pseudonym of Paul Dulac), 1927; How is the Duty (in collaboration), 1935; numerous articles published in various newspapers and magazines, including L'Action française, Catholic Social Action, Le Devoir, Canadian Quarterly Review and The St. Lawrence. Sources: Bio-bibliography of Georges Pelletier, lawyer, journalist, director of Devoir / Virginie Pelletier; Le Devoir, Jan. 21, 1947, p. 1; Dictionary of literary works of Quebec / under the direction of Maurice Lemire. T. II, p. 1015-1017; Quebec pseudonyms / Bernard Vinet. - p. 333; The Law Society of Quebec, t. 7, No. 2 (Feb. 1947), p. 86-87.”
Based on the information found in this biography, I believe it appropriate to conclude that Georges Pelletier was a well-respected, well-educated, and very successful man and therefore, the information found in “S’il y avait la guerre... Comment cela se passerait, d'après la doctrine de M. King” can be considered a very reliable source of information. That being said, it’s now time to begin our discussion concerning this article.
The importance of “S’il y avait la guerre... Comment cela se passerait, d'après la doctrine de M. King” lies in an excerpt found in the second column of page 01. This excerpt/article concerns the possibility of Canada participating in a potential upcoming war (“World War II”) if England participated, which as we know, did come to fruition. This excerpt concerns the attitude toward the “French” by a mob of English Immigrants in Verdun, Québec in relation to the possibility that the “French” of Québec may not have agreed to participate in the war, as their loyalty was to France. This excerpt is as follows:
“… A Verdun, une cohue d’immigrés anglais envahit l’hôtel de ville, jette dehors le maire et les conseillers français en hurlant: “This a British country. Down with the disloyal French half-breeds!...”
This loosely translates to:
“… In Verdun, a crowd of English immigrants invades the city hall, throw out the mayor and the French councilors screaming: “This a British country. Down with the disloyal French half-breeds!...”
The importance of this excerpt lies in the fact that it demonstrates a popular historical association between the “French” of Canada with being “Half-Breeds.” That’s really all there is to it.
In conclusion, Georges Pelletier’s Saturday, July 24, 1937 newspaper article entitled, “S’il y avait la guerre... Comment cela se passerait, d'après la doctrine de M. King” is an important addition to this collection. Although this article isn’t very “ground breaking” in the “grand scheme of things,” it’s still a very important document because it demonstrates that right before “World War II” broke out, there was a fear among Canadians that the “French” people of Québec, who were at that time considered to be “Half-Breeds” by the “English” population of the province, would not participate in a potential war because of their loyalty to France.
Article provided by: Eli Laliberte
