Dear Mr. Mackenzie King,
Prime Minister Costello has requested me to convey to you this morning the attached message from himself and his colleagues on the occasion of your resignation from the office of Prime Minister.

Will you please permit me to add my own sincere and respectful good wishes to those of Mr. Costello and his Cabinet and to join my humble prayer with theirs for your health and happiness in the years to come. I do not attempt, because I could not hope, to express to you my sense of the indebtedness under which I feel to you, Sir, for all you have been, and become, to our country during the years of my service as High Commissioner. Will you please graciously accept, with the good wishes I send you today, my heartwhole, respectful gratitude.

[enclosure]

'My colleagues and myself cannot let the occasion of your retirement pass without expressing to you the great esteem and regard we feel for you personally as well as our profound and sincere admiration for the notable services which you have rendered during your long career in public life not to Canada only but to the cause of world peace and understanding as well.

We congratulate you on the many great achievements of which your period of office has been so fruitful and we are deeply sensible of how much we all owe to your tireless championship of the ideals which Canada and Ireland hold in common.

We appreciate, in particular, all you have done to render closer and more cordial the relations between our two countries.

I personally take advantage of this opportunity to thank you again for all the kindness and hospitality you extended to me during my recent visit to Canada.

From our hearts we send you every good wish for your health and happiness together with our prayers that God may grant you many long years of the repose and contentment to which your long life and distinguished services to your country and mankind have so fully entitled you.