Letter from John J. Hearne to John A. Costello (Dublin)
(Personal) (Copy)

My dear Taoiseach,
In my letter of the 29th June¹ I submitted the view that it would be undesirable for me to take the initiative in requesting a departure, on the occasion of your visit to Canada, from the general rule that heads of Governments accept the hospitality of the Governor General at Government House during their stay, or portion of their stay, in Ottawa. You had made it clear to me in your letter of the 9th June² that you would prefer it if some other arrangement could be made for you. You will know full well how much your wishes in this matter would outweigh every other consideration.

Mr. St. Laurent had suggested to me in our conversation of the 29th June that, when I was making the arrangements for your visit - in so far as the Governor General's part in it was concerned - with Government House, I should 'let the initiative come from His Excellency'.

The Governor General arrived in Ottawa from Rio de Janeiro on the 30th June. I called Major General H. Letson, his Private Secretary, on the 2nd July and informed him of your visit to Canada in September. He said at once that he would come to see me at my convenience to discuss the matter of His Excellency's reception of my Prime Minister. I replied that I would call upon him at Government House (this is the usual procedure) and suggested the morning of Monday the 5th July if that was convenient. We arranged that I call on the morning of the 5th July.

I did so. After a preliminary conversation about the visit to Brazil, Major General Letson said that Their Excellencies desired him to express to me the pleasure it gave them to learn of your visit to Canada accompanied by Mrs. Costello. They wished me to let you know how much they were looking forward to receiving you at Government House. I requested the Private Secretary to assure the Governor General and Viscountess Alexander of your appreciation of their Excellencies' kindly sentiments and gracious welcome.

The Private Secretary then told me of the Governor General's arrangements for September. He will attend the Bar Association Banquet in Montreal on the 2nd. He will return at once to Ottawa and leave by air for Western Canada on the morning of the 5th September. He has a full programme in the West until the 19th September when he will return to Ottawa. I said that you would be in Canada until about the 20th or 21st September.

In these circumstances Major General Letson felt that it would be best if Their Excellencies received you on the 3rd or 4th September. He hoped you would be able to dine at Government House on either of those days. I said that I thought the 4th would be the more convenient day in view of your engagements in Montreal. Major General Letson agreed and promised to call me later in the day to confirm the arrangement. He did so.

In accordance with the usual practice he sent me a letter conveying Their Excellencies' invitation. I enclose a copy and also a copy of my reply.³

I respectfully hope that this arrangement will be agreeable to you. The Governor General's schedule for his Western tour as from the 5th September makes possible a form of official reception which accords with your own wishes in the matter, and avoids, at the same time, any question of a departure, in a particular case, from a general rule of practice.