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MARTIN BURRELL PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARIAN

J. DE L. TACHÉ GENERAL LIBRARIAN

CANADA LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT

Ottawa, Nov 6th. 1924

My dear Mr Buchan,

I hear from my friend Wallace Nesbitt that you had breakfast with him, and hope you had a pleasant time during the last few day you and Mrs Buchan spent in Canada.

I am venturing to enclose the review of your book. To tell the truth I found it difficult for the simple reason that now I am out of politics and a Civil Servant I find it necessary, and perhaps right, to keep away from party politics. I did not know Lord Minto as I was in British Colombia during his regime, but I sat in Parliament with Fred. Borden, Scott, Laurier etc. and was as you know opposed politically. Also I am fairly famliar with most of the events you touch on. You can understand how racy one could have made a review if one could have let go! I succeeded Fisher as Minister of Agriculture so of course knew him well.

I append a few notes of 'errata' which you may be glad to note for future editions. It's better that way than noting them in a review. I am unaware of whether you knew Laurier personally but you have summed up his character extraordinarily well though probably some of his political friends might not think so.

Two days ago Lord Byng came into my office for a chat as he sometimes does, and we discussed Minto. It was he who made the remark which I have quoted - A Governor-General should not emphasise the 'Governor' or the 'General'. Coming from him I thought it particularly neat and told him I felt disposed to use it. He thought that coming after Lansdowne and being succeeded by Grey had rather prevented Minto getting his proper recognition and I gathered that he thought you had given it. I knew Grey pretty well and liked him, but he was often not sound in judgment and prone to go off at half-cock though full of enthusiasm and imagination. Minto I should say was an abler man, though perhaps I cannot judge. I have been writing this column for a year now and rather like the work and hope I shall be able to preserve my anonymity, though it is not easy to do so in a place like Ottawa. I ventured to send my review of "The Little French Girl" to Mrs de Selincourt and trust she may like it. You and your wife must come again some day to Canada. What a sweep for Baldwin!

With kind regards, Yours sincerely, Mr. Burrell