2110-6-2-8

[Violet Markham 1932]

Portrack, Holywood, Dumfries

October 1st 193[2] [1932 was year of Ottawa Conference]

Susie Darling

I have watched the reconstruction of the Government with ever growing amazement & indignation. All these nonentities stuffed in & John left out. Is Ramsay ass enough to think that the wretched camouflage of National Liberals is going to delude anyone?

I can't say how angry I am, how disgracefully I think John has been treated & how bad it all is in the interests of the country. But I am more than glad you didn't take that wretched B-job. Being thrust into a backwater with a red carpet would be poor compensation for such shabby conduct.

I am deeply troubled about the political situation. You wont share my view but I have been most uneasy since Ottawa &

felt once again we had been mugs. You see I never have believed in Imperial Preference. I have always had a conviction tht it would lead to untold friction & difficulty owing to the great diversity of the interests concerned. And its first fruits have been the break up of the British Government!

I don't see that the Liberals could do other than resign. From the Free Traders point of view the consequence of Ottawa are likely to be too grave & too far reaching. And whether in public or private life you can't go on sacrificing a fundamental principle for the sake of expediency.

One can only do the right & honest thing as the situation arises. Tariffs I am more & more convinced are one of the major curses of the world. I am sure our people went to Ottawa with all the right intentions but they were bullied by Bennett & Co into a surrender which seems to some of us wholly evil

Portrack, Holywood, Dumfries.

Tel: Newbridge 5.

Our friendship is old enough & strong enough for you to bear patiently with this profession of faith!

You will be sorry to hear of our troubles here. Jim & his secretary Miss Moir were returning from London last Friday week when his car skidded, jumped the fence & turned a complete somersault.

Why they were'nt both killed on the spot is a mystery - Jim escaped with bruises & shock but the poor girl was badly injured, broke two ribs & though she is doing well lies quite helpless upstairs with two nurses & will lie helpless for weeks.

I arrived here at 11.30 p.m. from Harrogate on the Friday night when this pleasant situation burst on me!

And we had the house quite full for Lanark Races! However all things sort themselves & as you know I take life as it comes. We are getting on all right & have settled down to hospital life. Jim is out of bed & really marvellous in view of the shock. All my plans for the autumn have gone west. ([in margin:] miners welfare) I have got to stay here & mind this particular ship.

A line in haste Darling. Letters pile up but I felt I must send a few lines of love & indignation.

Your loving

Violet