Artefact 1: Photo of James Cross playing Solitaire released by the FLQ

Citation:

James Cross Held Captive British Trade Commissioner James Cross plays solitaire almost one month after his kidnapping in this photo released by his FLQ kidnappers in early November 1970. November 1970. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/new_article_images/FLQ/CP2755756.jpg.

Label:

On October 5th, 1970, British Trade Commissioner James Cross was kidnapped by the FLQ from his home in Montreal. The kidnapping of the British diplomat sparked concern within the Canadian government about the Quebec nationalist group, as this level of extremism was shocking. However, the response at the time from the government was limited. It would take the Kidnapping of Canadian Cabinet Minister Pierre LaPorte for Canada to respond. In doing so they invoked the War Measures Act. Although the Act was invoked, it would take 2 months for Cross to be released by the FLQ. The Act was invoked in order to find these men quickly and put an end to the FLQ’s extremist actions, this was not the case, instead the Act infringed on many civil liberties of Canadians. This Photo was released about a month after James Cross was kidnapped, along with demands by the FLQ to the Canadian government that would not be met. This inaction by the government calls into question their priorities in regards to the October Crisis, and the importance of rescuing Cross. Further, calling into question the use of the War Measures Act.

Bibliography:

Munroe, H.D. 2009. “The October Crisis Revisited: Counterterrorism as Strategic Choice, Political Result, and Organizational Practice.” Terrorism and Political Violence 21 (2): 288-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546550902765623.