LORD TWEEDSMUIR’S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 23499, 13 February 1940, Page 9

LORD TWEEDSMUIR’S DEATH

CANADA IN MOURNING WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MONTREAL, February 12. Pulmonary embolism, which, suddenly developed after the third operation, was the immediate cause of Lord Tweedsmuir’s death, according to his physicians. Lady Tweedsmuir has received messages of sympathy from all parts of tiie world, including their Majesties, Mr Mackenzie King, President Roosevelt, and Mr Cordell Hull. Officials throughout Canada paid public tributes, many by radio. Mr Mackenzie King termed Lord Tweedsmuir one of the greatest of Canada’s Governors-General. President Roosevelt said he was shocked and grieved by the news of Lord Tweedsmuir’s death. Many engagements, public meetings, and broadcasts in connection with the

elections on March 1 26 will be changed or cancelled. The Prime Minister advised several Cabinet Ministers at present campaigning in.the provinces to return to Ottawa immediately. Mr Mitchell Hepburn, the Premier, planned to adjourn the Ontario Legislature immediately after the meeting to-day. Flags are flying at half-mast throughout Canada. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ASHES TO BE BURIED IN SCOTLAND. OTTAWA, February 12. The Chief Justice.(Sir Lyman Duff) has been sworn in as Acting GovernorGeneral. He will be the King’s representative until the successor to Lord Tweedsmuir arrives in about • two months. Lord Tweedsmuir’s term would have expired next autumn, when he intended to return to Scotland. Those most prominently mentioned as successor to Lord Tweedsmuir are Lord Elgin and the Duke of Devonshire. One hundred Grenadier Guards will form a guard of honour when the body is placed in a funeral railway carriage at Montreal on the morning of February 12. It will arrive at Ottawa at noon on February 13, after which it will lie in state in the Senate chamber until the State funeral on the afternoon of February 14, to St Andrew’s Presbyterian Cnurch, which Lord Tweedsmuir attended. Thereafter it will'be returned to Montreal for cremation and the ashes will be buried in Scotland.

MANY TRIBUTES POLITICAL PARTIES ASSOCIATED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 12. (Received February 13, at 11 a.m.) Lord Tweedsmuir’s untimely death is deeply deplored on both sides of the Atlantic. In Canada the leaders of the great political parties now in the midst of a campaign for a General Election took part in a nation-wide broadcast of tributes to the late Governor-General. Commenting on the esteem in which he was held, the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says it was a popularity which overflowed the Canadian frontiers and extended widely in the United States. Undoubtedly it was not without its influence in quickening Canada’s rally to the Empire cause when war broke out last September. It was not forgotten how, in addressing an audience of women in Toronto last October, Lord Tweedsmnir said; “ Let us remember that in this fight we are the gods of chivalry.” HEW ZEALAND'S SYMPATHY CABLEGRAM DESPATCHED. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 12. Now Zealand’s condolences with Canada in the death of her GovernorGeneral were expressed in the following cablegram sent to-day by the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) to Mr Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada:— “ On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I desire to express our deep regret on the passing of Lord Tweedsmnir, whose services to Canada and the British Commonwealth will not bo forgotten. Please also convey our most sincere sympathy to Lord Tweedsmuir’s relatives.”

[Lord Tweedsmuir, formerly Mr John Buchan, who was Governor-General of Canada from 1935, was born in Peeblesshire in 1875. He was educated at Glasgow and Oxford Universities, where he had a distinguished career. In 1901OS he was private secretary to the late Lord Milner, who was ■ High Commissioner to South Africa. During the war he was on the Headquarters Staff. As Mr Buchan he was well known to thousands of readers through his exciting novels, ‘ The Thirty-nine Steps,’ “ Grecnmantle.’ ‘ Mr Standfast,’ ‘ The Dancing Floor,’ and other stories. He also wrote many excellent literary studies and general works, and his His-

tory of the Great War is one of tb» best small histories of that event. Ha was for many years adviser to the publishing firm' of Thomas Nelson and Sons. Ho was raised to the peerage on his appointment to Canada in 1935. He was Chancellor of Edinburgh University 1937. and Lord High Commissioner to the Clmrch of Scotland from 1933 to 1934. From 1927 to 1935 he was Conservative Member of Parliament for Scottish Universities.]