The Deputy of Wallonia

The language and the communitary question become one of the most important factors in Belgian home policy.
Jules Destrée is defending Wallonia at the Chamber, writes a lot of articles in the press precising his ideas. These are clearly defined in his conference at the " Jeune Barreau " of Antwerp, called " Une idée qui meurt : la patrie " (1906).
Jules Destrée writes in 1912, the famous "Lettre au Roi " on the separation of Wallonia and Flanders. He thinks the union of two independant and free people is better that an imposed unity.

In this same year 1912, on 20 October, the " Walloon Assembly" is created. Jules Destrée will be the first president, then general secretary : first organization for study and defence of walloon interests, he represents a pluralistic entity : a " Walloon Parliament " of delegates of different parts of Wallonia and Brussels.

In 1923, he publishes at Plon " Wallons et Flamands. La querelle linguistique en Belgique ".

In 1929, Jules Destrée, together with the Flemish regionalist Kamiel Huysmans, is negotiating for a political agreement proposal between both communities. They lead to the " Compromis des Belges ".

Jules Destrée, at the same time independentist, separatist, and autonomist, remains an unfailing Walloon to his death. After his death, the thoughts of this " arouser of the Walloon conscience " will survive through a lot of followers.