2110-4-9-22

[Lady Byng of Vimy] [strikethough][ST: The Robert Refords][/strikethrough]

Grand Metis

Private

July 21st [1926]

My dear John,

Julian shewed me your nice letter to him, and I was SO glad you wrote, as we really have had a far far more hellish time than any of you at home can realise or believe. How much J. will have told you in his reply I dont know, but I hope enough to show you both what a scurvy cad M.K. is and always has been. You were both so "entiché" with him at Ottawa, that you never saw through him, as with more intimate knowledge one did oneself. Now he has come out in his true colours, as totally regardless of Empire, Crown, and everything but his own "place in the sun". As for his treatment of J. all through that recent period it was disgusting beyond all words. For three solid days he came up and insulted, bullied, threatened him, with everything he could think of, in the hopes of bringing an utterly upright man of honour to his own despicable depths of moral degradation.

Power is his watchword - the power of M.K. - and there is not one other thing in the whole world that counts in his sight. A true Judas Iscariot he tried to betray J. in the House, with lying protestations of a sham affection, that had NEVER really existed, and which was only an incidental handle to him for attempting his own advancement. That he should have dared behave as he did, even I, who always despised and knew him- hardly expected, and God knows I expected a goodish deal of filth, once his power was in danger. He, and various members of his party, are as false to England, under a mask of faithfulness, as is Bourrassa openly and blatantly. I believe I prefer an open trator [sic] to a masked one - its a shade

[Grand Metis P.Q.]

Private

less low!! My hope is that after Bourrassa's first speech of rank trea son, in which he abused J. foully belauded M.K. to the skies, and declared himself his faithful henchman, in this coming election, he may have harmed this hor rible rabble of bad liberals. Composed of what it is composed of, at the present moment, annihilation is all its fit for, and I hope the polls will do that and give this country a decent and sane government under which it can go ahead. As you know, out here, one has had NO party politics, but I confess that in the last five years my hatred & contempt of one side has grown, even though I am not thrilled by the other. But anyhow Meighen IS a gentleman, and straight, and thats a lot to be thankfull for in Cana dian politics, and is only too rare alas.

J. and I are apart for the moment - not legally!! - but because he wanted golf, and I wanted complete peace and rest and above all an esca pe from that horrible Ottawa atmosphere - both physical and political-. So he is at Tamahaac Club near Hamilton with some familiar cronies and I am here, with Mrs Reford. I believe you know both her and the place - a really divine spot isn't it? and every hour a source of joy to the eye and rest to the soul, whether mooning about the beach, swirling down the rapids in a canoe, or driving away into that wonderful back country which is so unsual [unusual] and queerly foreign. We rejoin forces J & I at Murray Bay, after I have had a week's yachting in the Saguenay, with the young Jack Price's, and we dont return to G.H. - praise be - till about Sep: 7th. After the election we shall slip down to Toronto to say good-byes - interrupted by the uphea val,- then the same at Ottawa, and finally at Quebec, where we shall put in, I suppose, a couple of days. Sailing Sep: 29th a fortnight later than we

Grand Metis, P.Q.

Private

intended, but one cant leave things at a loose end for Willingdon to pick up. Heaven send he hasnt the trouble we have had, this last 10 months or so, as he wont like it!! There are many nice sides to a G. G's job but ye gods! there are others that pass belief. However I trust Willingdon may be spared an M.K. type of alternately fawning and bullying traitor. I wouldnt wish my worst enemy that, and I liked Lord W. and am sure he will be very popular: - of her I am less sure, but she has vast energy and, I imagine, abounding health which is a huge asset for a "G.Gess"

Love to you both and thank you SO much for writing to J. as you did because he so appreciated what you said.

Ever yours

E.B.V.

P.S. My hostess is out - but I expect she would send you tender messages if she knew I was writing to you.