RAOUL SALAN (1899-1984) Autographed manuscript signed ‘R Salan’ dated 27 March 1963 [and dated: May 1971 - lower right]

1 p. in4 on strong paper. In French. 23 x 21 cm Text on Honour. «My whole existence as an adult, as a man, as a soldier, has been founded on the principle of Honour - of that honour which was in the heart of our ancestors - the Honour of great France - I did not accept, even though I was in uniform, to submit to orders contrary to my ideas; I rebelled - I went to prison, I stayed there for a long time, a very long time; I don’t regret it; I kept to the right path, that of Honour itself. So I think I am entitled today to the respect of honest people, of true patriots -» Raoul Salan. French general, he was the most decorated soldier in France. Disagreeing with General de Gaulle’s Algerian policy, he participated in the Comité de Salut Public in Algiers in 1958 and then in the Putsch des Généraux in 1961. He was also the leader of the Secret Armed Organisation (OAS) which fought to maintain the status quo of French Algeria. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, then amnestied in 1968 and reinstated in the officer corps.