2110-4-9-2

Personal

[Embossed Seal: Coat of Arms - Prime Ministers Office Canada]

Ottawa, February 27, 1926

John Buchan, Esq., Elsfield Manor, Oxford, England.

My dear Buchan:

Since the opening of the year I have received no letter which brought with it more in the way of genuine comfort and satisfaction than yours of January 12th. I have felt so convinced in my own mind that constitutionally I was doing the right thing in continuing in office until the new Parliament had met and expressed its view in the matter of majority control, that I have been naturally anxious to see how tbe matter might be viewed by others wholly removed from the atmosphere of political prejudice and passion. I do not hesitate to say that your judgment is one to which I would, on any matter of the kind, attach the greatest importance. It was, therefore, very pleasing to me that you should feel that from the constitutional point of view I had adopted the right course. It is now wholly apparent that my judgment in the matter was sound; that the majority of the elected representatives could not have been expected to give their support to Mr. Heighen, and so it has proved. The first vote in the House gave the Gowernment the small majority of three. That was due, so far as I can learn, to the desire on the part of certain of the Progressives not to defeat the Administration, but to make it clear that the Government would be more or less dependent upon their support to carry on. From that moment to the present the tactics of the opposition have been of a character to drive the Progressives, the Labor Members and ourselves into one homogeneous whole, and to make a clear line of division between the official opposition and the other groups in Parliament. This is exactly that I believed would take place. Several amendments to the motion on the Address have been made. The Government's majorities upon them have been anywhere from eight to ten. That, I think, may be taken as a fair average of what we are likely to receive throughout the Session, if we continue to hold office.

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My own course in not seeking a seat until the people's representatives in the Commons had, to all intents and purposes, given expression to their feelings upon the attitude I had assumed, has become increasingly appreciated by Members of Parliament and the country. The Majority of six thousand, or thereabout, which I received in the byelection in Prince Albert, was not due to the absence of any regular Party candidate. An Independent was selected believing he would get a pretty substantial Conservative support and some Progressives as well. The fact that the total vote was as large, if not larger than the total vote at the general elections, and that in most polls I gained more than the combined Progressive and Liberal vote at that time, is a clear indication that the people wish to show their endorsation of my stand, and the policies of the Administration as outlined in the Speech from the Throne.

When Parliament was summoned I made quite clear, in the official announcement to the Press, that once the question of majority control was settled, an adjournment would be had, to enable whichever leader might be given support opportunity to arrange for the business of the Session. Mr. Meighen has taken the curious position of refusing to allow us the intermission, and is trying to have it appear that the Goverrunent's reason for requesting it is due to its inability to function properly. The only purpose that his tactics have served has been to make increasingly apparent the line of cleavage between his own supporters, and the groups that are now solidly allied in their opposition to them. In two months he has really done more to solidify the anti-Conservative forces than it would have been possible for me to do in as many years. I have not yet taken my seat in Parliament, but will be able to do so next week. The constituency of Prince Albert is so large and so far away that it takes three days to get returns from all the polls, and another three days to bring the writ from the Constituency to Ottawa. The law requires that before forwarding the writ it be held for six days to permit of a recount. All of that has delayed my return to the Commons.

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You will have noticed that Mr. Dunning , the Premier of Saskatchewan, has joined the Administration as Minister of Raiways and Canals. Dunning is generally thought of as the ablest man in public life West of the Great Lakes. His coming into the Government wiil materially strengthen our position.

You will I am sure be interested in learning that I have made it clear to the Progressive and Labor groups in Parliament that I do not propose to bargain for support. I put all our cards on the table at the start. Our policies were fully outlined in the Speech from the Throne before I had an interview with a single member of either the Progressive or Labor Party. From the moment Parliament assembled up to this hour they have all been given to understand that this programme we were prepared to carry through if given the necessary support. Otherwise we were quite ready to resign.

While I have no concern about our ability to carry on I can see that the policy of the Opposition will be to block us at every stage. That will make the Session anything but pleasant. Obstruction tactics constitute, however, a two-edged sword, and already what has been attempted in that direction has strengthened very materially our position in the country.

To me, personally, after the heavy work of the last four years and all the strain and stress of the general election and the situation which has ensued, a period of retirement from office would not be at all unwelcome. I recognize, however, that there are situations where one cannot afford to permit one's personal feelings to be a determining factor, and in the present situation I recognize a real need to maintain the position which we have taken, and I intend to do this to the utmost of my strength and ability.

The references of your letter to the situations with which the Governments of Peel, Russell, Plamerston and Darby were faced, have been very helpful to me. We think too often of "the light of history" in its relation to the unknown future; what it brings to us of guidance from the past is perhaps, what we should have most in mind.

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I would write more, but my time at the moment is somewhat restricted. I shall watch for an opportunity to keep you informed of developments in which you have been generous enough to take a personal interest. No words can begin to express what, in the way of gratitude, I feel for your understanding sympathy at this critical period .

I hope Mrs. Buchan keeps very well. Please permit me to send to you both an expression of affectionate regard.

Yours very sincere ly, W Mackenzie King