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[image: seal Prime Minister]
10, Downing Street Whitehall. S.W.
13th April , 1927
My dear Buchan,
We regret greatly the death of Sir Henry Craik, who was an ideal University representative in the House of Commons. His long publico service , coupled with his sterling honesty and genuineness, made him respected by all who knew him .
We may, however, congratulate ourselves that so distinguished a son of Glasgow University as yourself is standing as parliamentary candidate for the Scottish University in his stead. The place which you have made for yourself in literature and in the public service entitles you to look forward to a distinguished political career.
As Conservative candidate in the first bye-election since the publication of our proposals for remedying existing defects in the law relating to trade unions, you will no doubt be expected to explain to the electors the policy of the Government in these matters.
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[image: seal Prime Minister]
10, Downing Street Whitehall. S.W.
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This is the more essentail as a campaign of misrepresentation by our politiaal opponents has already begun.
The main objects of the Trades Disputes and Trade Unions Bill are the protection of the nation as a whole from that form of industrial coercion known as the 'General Strike', and the restoration to the individual trade unionist of freedom from victimisation, intimidation, and unjustifiable pressure to contribute to political funds, with the objects of which he may be out of sympathy.
Less than a year ago the nation successfully met and broke the General Strike, but not before grave losses had been suffered. The Bill is designed to make clear, beyond all possibility of doubt, the illegality of such an attempt to coerce the Government and the nation; but it does not, as has been alleged, render illegal any strike which is not "designed or calculated to coerce the Government
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[image: seal Prime Minister]
10, Downing Street Whitehall. S.W.
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Government, or to intimidate the community or any substantial portion of the oommunity". Can any responsible leader urge that coercion of this description is a legitimate object for any strike, or that any sensible trade unionist refusing to take part in such a strike should not be entitled to protection from victimisation by reason of such refusal?
A large part of the measure is devoted to defining the law with regard to intimidation. Surely it cannot seriously be suggested that any man should have the right, whatever may be his object, so to intimidate a fellow workman that he fears violence to himself or to his wife and family, or the possibility of being subjected to ridicule or contempt? It is contrary to the whole conception of British justice that men should not be allowed to go about their lawful business without fear of · molestation, either of themselves or of their wives and families/
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[image: seal Prime Minister]
10, Downing Street Whitehall. S.W.
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families.
One clause of the Bill changes the position with regard to the political levy in such a manner that in the future, should a trade unionist desire to contribute to the political fund of his union, it will be necessary for him to say so in writing. Surely no great hardship is involved in this proposal? On the other hand, can it be urged that it is fair to require a Liberal or Conservative trade unionist to contribute to a fund whioh is to be used by his political opponents, unless he is prepared to incur the odium which has certainly in the past been attached to "contracting out"?
The principles that civil servants must know no politics, and that local and other public authorities must not abuse their position as employers by differentiating between employees who are or who are not members of certain trade unions, will I think command the support of any person interested in impartial government , whether/
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[image: seal Prime Minister]
10, Downing Street Whitehall. S.W.
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whether of a national or a local character; while that which prohibits a person employed by a local or public authority from breaking his contract of service if he knows or believes that by so doing he will hinder or prevent that public authority from performing its public duties, is intended to safeguard the interests of the community at large, by providing that essential public services shall not be interrupted without due notice. The general right of the servants of a local authority to strike is not affected. The Bill merely compels them to give due notice to terminate their employment.
I am confident that the electors of the Scottish Universities, who have a reverence for constitution, and the principles of freedom of thought and action upon which it is based, will not fail to support you in this contest, and by so doing to support the Government in their proposals, which are intended to benefit not one particular /
