2110-7-2-27

St. Stephen's House, London, S.W.1.

28th March, 1935

My own darling,

I hope you got safely to Scotland and found my little girl on the mend. I am simply snowed under by cables and letters, and I have not got the Elsfield lot yet. I must say the press have been extraordinarily kind. I enclose an amusing leader from today's "Morning Post".

My leaving the House yesterday afternoon was a terribly melancholy affair. At three o'clock, when the official announcement came from the Palace, I ceased automatically to be a Member. I went in at ten minutes to three, and took my old seat behind Baldwin. The Speaker smiled at me and he and I kept our eyes on the clock. At one minute to three I got up, shook hands with Baldwin and Ramsay, bowed to the Speaker, and walked out. The debate suddenly stopped, and Members standing behind the Bar grasped my hand. I could not have spoken without breaking down.

I am seeing the Prime Minister tonight about some details and go back to Elsfield tomorrow morning. I travel to Peebles on Saturday. I think the best time for you to come out on Sunday is tea-time. If you come for supper it means going to the Tontine.

Eddie Marsh told me this morning that he saw Billie at the play last Sunday. By the way, most of the newspapers in London have been asking where you are.

Much love. from John

[MS] The "Times" picture of you and I was quite good

[image: newspaper clipping]

THE FORTIETH STEP

Canada will take leave of the Earl of BESSBOROUGH with regret, for since 1931 he has worthily represented the KING in the Dominion-a period which has seen the Empire move yet closer together. He had the honour of being the first to fly the new Governor-General's flag from Government House, and "So long as I stay," Lord BESSBOROUGH said soon after his appointment, "I shall strive to live up to the ideals and traditions which the symbols of this flag typify." He has well succeeded; and his successor, Mr. JOHN BUCHAN, will leave for Canada with a determination as high. Mr. BUCHAN's appointment is interesting; never before has a commoner been chosen as the KING's vice-regent, and men of letters are rarely bidden to great ceremonial and administrative posts. Yet though people think first of Mr. BUCHAN as a grand novelist and a scholarly historian, he is not solely a writer but a politician and a business man besides, and has already enjoyed the honour of serving as a representative of the KING. Last year and in 1933 he brought dignity to the office of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and revealed much aptness for ceremonial duties. That quality, together with his comprehension of politics and profound knowledge of history, should help him in one of the most responsible places of authority in the Empire.

The son of the manse takes overseas two further advantages: he claims the affection given to authors who can make the world forget bed-time; and he is a Scot. Nowhere is the pioneering energy of Scotland more clearly traced than in Canada, and the new Governor-General's compatriots at this very day have a predominant share in shaping the Dominion's affairs. Mr. BUCHAN, then, will start with an overplus of good will, which his character and intellectual gifts will not diminish. The public at home wish him success, and hope that in Canada he will gather fresh laurels for his head -and fresh romances for his pen.

MORNING POST