The World - News from May 22, 1987

French President Francois Mitterrand’s visit to Canada next week will officially end a 20-year chill in relations caused by President Charles de Gaulle’s cry of “Vive le Quebec libre,” Canadian officials said. De Gaulle’s statement from the balcony of Montreal City Hall during a 1967 state visit poisoned relations for several years and was a rallying cry to Quebec’s separatist movement. The officials, who asked not to be identified, said Mitterrand will become the first French president to make a state visit to all of Canada, not just French-speaking Quebec.