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1.
CONFIDENTIAL

The outward and visible function of a Governor-General of Canada is, of
course, to represent the King in Canada.

But he has also an inward function, supremely important in these days - to
represent the English to the Canadians.

It is unnecessary to dwell on the former; provided due attention is paid
to the proper discharge of the formal ceremonies inherent in Viceroyalty,
the exercise of it is comparatively plain sailing, save in times of
constitutional crisis, when the works of recognized authorities on such
matters - Anson, Dicey, Berriedale Keith, and so on - afford better guidance
than I can pretend to offer. The most difficult thing about it is to know
when it ends - to know when the Viceroy should become the Man.

The second function is more complex, and to perform it successfully is no
easy matter. Any man of education and imagination who is used to public
life can adequately play the King on ceremonial occasions, or in official
relationships; to win the sympathy and affection of a very diverse, self-
conscious, and politically restless people is more difficult .

Yet this second task is today the more important of the two; Canadians, as
a whole, are so deeply loyal to the present King that their loyalty needs
little stimulus - it is a hardy plant that requires only a minimum of
tending. So, too, their affection for "The Old Country " is very strong;
it has, moreover, recently had a strong practical tonic in their genuine
admiration for the manner in which Great Britain has overcome her domestic
difficulties, and recovered the financial and political leadership of the
world.

What is not so strong, and needs constant reinforcement, is their affection
for Englishmen, in general and in particular. The danger here is
if Canadians do not like Englishmen in the flesh, sooner or later the
spiritual British affiliation is bound to be weakened.

The G.G., however successfully he may identify himself - as he should do
with Canada and the Canadians, is always the typical Englishman of the
moment. I said above, he, his lady, his family, and his Staff,
"represent the English" to the Canadians. Consequently, the personal
popularity of all of them is, in varying degrees of importance, a major
determinant in the success or non-success of any G.G.'s regime, which
is ultimately gauged by the simple question "Has he weakened or strengthened
the ties between Canada and the Mother-country?" - for, when all