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Historical documents

166

10th January, 1929

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

My dear P.M.,

I went to a dinner at the American Embassy on the night after I
returned. It was an affair of twenty men representing a wide
variety of interests, to welcome McCormick, the Editor-Proprietor
of the 'Chicago Tribune' [1], which, as you probably know, is the
most influential middle west (Chicago) paper in the States-and the
most anti-British. McCormick is a young [2] and ignorant fellow
which, I should think, has never yet stopped him from expressing
an opinion on any subject.

The Ambassador [3] and his staff are always very cordial and the
function was an interesting one.

Lord Lloyd [4] has played up very well indeed in the matter of
looking after the several Australians to whom I have given
introductions to him. In particular he has been most helpful and
kind to J. M. Niall [5], whom he had to stay at The Residency for
a week as well as arranging for him to be put up at The Residency
at Khartoum, and other arrangements for his interest and comfort.

As Lloyd said to me when he was in London a few months ago-we
should have no hesitation in giving prominent Australians
introductions to him. He is a good Empire welder and always sends
people away with a good opinion of themselves-and of him. He makes
a point of taking them into a quiet corner and asking them in his
husky voice what is the real truth about so-and-so!

I don't quite see in what direction Lloyd's future lies unless he
gets the Viceroyship of India. [6] He is 50 this year and is a man
of unceasing energy and ambition. He wants India very badly and I
should think would be a good man for the job. I can't see him as
Governor-General of either Australia or Canada as he would have
the utmost difficulty in effacing himself and would eat his heart
out at not being able to influence events. He is married to (I
think) a cousin of Lord Lascelles, who is quite adequate in every
way, and thinks, which is very right and proper, that he is the
best thing that has ever been produced. [7]

I enclose cuttings that may interest you, with regard to Barclays
Bank opening up in Canada, and Sir D. Fraser's [8] views as to the
long term trend of money rates. Also a 'Hankey' [9] cutting, and a
'Times' review of Lady Bailey's wonderful flight. [10]

You will be amused to hear that Wilkins has named a strait in
Graham Land after me. The Naval Hydrographer asked me if I wanted
it to go on the Admiralty Charts as R.G. Casey Strait so that
there would be no doubt about it! [11]

I am, Yours sincerely,
R.G. CASEY


1 Colonel R. R. McCormick had served on General Pershing's staff
in France in 1917.

2 He was then aged 49.

3 Alanson Houghton.

4 High Commissioner for Egypt and the Sudan.

5 Managing Director of Goldsbrough, Mort and Co. Ltd.

6 Lloyd's resignation was obtained by the new Labour Government in
mid-1929, but his illiberal views had besides alienated Sir Austen
Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary in the previous Conservative
administration. He was not appointed Viceroy. See also Letters 77
and 207-9.

7 Lloyd had married the Hon. Blanche Lascelles, a cousin of Lord
Lascelles, heir of the Earl of Harewood.

8 Sir Drummond Fraser, formerly Managing Director of the
Manchester, Liverpool and District Bank.

9 Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary to the Cabinet.

10 Lady Bailey, wife of South African business tycoon Sir Abe
Bailey, had flown a de Havilland Cirrus Moth from England to South
Africa in 1928.

11 In November 1928 Sir Hubert Wilkins made the first flight over
Antarctica and during subsequent exploration from the air he named
as Casey Channel one of several ice-filled areas which he thought
separated Graham Land from the mainland and as well split it. In
the mid-1930s it was found that these channels, including Casey
Channel, did not in fact exist.


Last Updated: 11 September 2013
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