Jacques Soustelle

Jacques Soustelle was born in Montpellier (France) on 3 February 1912 and died on 6 August 1990. A specialist of Latin American Civilizations, he became vice-director of the Musée de l'homme (in France) in 1938.

An antifascist, he rallied the french resistance and de Gaulle in London and became head of the information and intelligence services. He was Minister of Information and then of the Colonies in 1945. Secretary General of the Gaullist Rally of the French People (RPF) from 1947 to 1951, he became Governor General of Algeria in 1955-56.

He favoured the integration of the Muslim community of the then French Departments. Soustelle contributed to de Gaulle's return to power and became Information Minister in 1958. In 1959, he was appointed Minister of State of charge of Overseas' departments. His opinions conflicted with de Gaulle's policy in favour of Algerian independence (see the algerian war of independence) and he was dismissed of the cabinet and of the Gaullist UNR Party in 1960. His action in favour of an Algeria within the French Republic conducted him to be researched for attempting to the authority of the State. He lived in exile between 1961 and 1968. After being pardoned, he returned to politics.

Soustelle sat as an MP for the Mayenne in 1945-46 and then for the Rhône (1951-58) as Gaullist and from 1973 to 1978 as a member of the centrist Réformateur party).

He was elected member of Académie française in 1983. He published : Envers et contre tout, Aimée et souffrante Algérie, L'Espérance trahie, l'Art du Mexique, Mexique et les Quatre Soleils.