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[JAS - Byng of Vimy]
Ottawa
Private [underlined twice]
May 12th 1925
My dear John. Bless you for your nice letter and lots of love to you both.
The Government of Canada have offered me an extension to practically any term I like, and to talk to you quite candidly as an old friend, I have refused.
You will doubtless say "What an Ass' - and perhaps you are right, but I will give you my reasons which seem to resolve themselves into two - 1) Constitutional 2) Personal. The former should really only count and I have tried to concentrate on them.
1. Constitutionally, Canada says they want a G.G. for five years - and I would be sorry to be the person who established a precedent which might produce difficulties with a sucessor who was not popular saying that Byng was given an extension so why not he? Also extensions in the cases of Minto and Grey were not as successful as expected.
2. After five years one has probably done ones best and as the work becomes more familiar so will the tendency to take less trouble become natural.
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and my affection and love for these people is so great that if I thought I was out here not running up to form and not doing all that ought to be done, I should hate myself and never forgive myself.
3. I am firmly of opinion that I can help Canada more in the Old Country than I can out here after my time is up. In putting the Canadian point of view (from here) to Ministers in London, I feel sure that they very naturally say 'Oh yes he has got imbued with the Canadian viewpoint'. But to say what I feel in London as an Englishman to a Minister would probably be received with more interest and fuller hearing.
4. The Government's view out here is that my relations with them have been very happy and they hate the idea of change. I will admit the happy relations, but will the change be less difficult in the future.
The Personal considerations amount to this. My wife does not stand the winter too well - and will stand it no better each succeeding year. She wants a rest and wants a change and has had neither since we married. If I sent her home for the winter it would let down what is expected from Government House very seriously and we should both hate the thought of having done so.
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2.
Now dear John, I have written my thoughts to you as fully as I can and would ask you to keep them to yourself.
I want to do only what is right by the Old Country and by Canada. Canada has laid herself out to make it easy for me and I am devoted to her people - therefore, it is my feeling that I am doing the right thing both to my own country and this Dominion that makes me make a decision against my own inclinations and happiness.
John, I have written to you as full as I can, fuller than I have to anyone else. You may not agree with what I have done (and I shall not change -) but I have done what I think is wise, and right by my country.
Write to me when you have time.
Bless you Old Boy.
Yrs Ever
Byng of Vimy
