Private Luncheon for His Excellency The Honourable D. Roland Michener

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Empire Club of Canada on Monday, July 6th, at the University Club, the President, the Hon. D. R. Michener, advised that half an hour before, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson, had announced Mr. Michener's appointment as Canadian High Commissioner to India and that he would be leaving Canada early in August. Following congratulations, the President's resignation was accepted with regret and Lt. Col. Robert H. Hilborn was appointed President for the balance of Mr. Michener's term, effective July 21st, 1964. This action of the Executive Committee was confirmed at a meeting of the Directors of the Empire Club on Tuesday, July 21 st, at the University Club.

On Tuesday, August 11th, in the Quebec Room of the Royal York Hotel, the Past Presidents and Directors of the Empire Club entertained His Excellency the Honourable Mr. Michener at luncheon on the occasion of his departure for India.

The President, Lt. Col. Robert H. Hilborn, paid a tribute to Mr. Michener.

COLONEL HILBORN:

As your new President I face you with mixed feelings of pride and humility. Proud to have the honour of presiding over this historic yet energetic Club, and humble in the recollection of its traditions and the distinguished Presidents who have gone before. Today we are gathered to honour and to bid "au revoir" to our most recent, and one of our most distinguished Past Presidents. He has given in full measure of his energy, wisdom and time to our common cause and no one here will miss him more than I. The too few months I have had of association with Your Excellency have been gratifying and stimulating, and latterly I have done some basking in the reflected glory of your much-deserved appointment. I do appreciate the thoughtfulness, efficiency and frugality of those members who, in conveying their congratulations to you, have considerately sent me carbon copies of their letters with personally congratulatory postscripts added.

The Honourable Roland Michener's career and achievements provide ample material for a glowing and lengthy tribute. To all here, however, these are well known and they

have spoken for themselves so eloquently that you need few words from me. Lest you think that he is without sin however, recall his days as a Rhodes Scholar and his continuing and active interest in this distinguished coterie and be reminded that there are two unpardonable sins at Oxford and I suggest that he is guilty of both-one is to be seen working; the other is to be enthusiastic.

The Prime Minister, mindful of Mr. Michener's aplomb and forensic dexterity as Mr. Speaker and knowing his strong common sense, which it is not easy to unseat or disturb, has found in him all the competence and conscience to recommend him to this high post. In doing what Emerson referred to as "choosing that welfare which is compatible with the commonwealth, knowing that such alone is stable" you, sir, have brought honour to Canada, to yourself, and to our own Empire Club. As Canada's High Commissioner to India, Your Excellency will witness and indeed contribute to the great transformation of an ancient society. How little we know of what has been going on in India since the days of the Raj. My own knowledge is confined to gleanings from E. M. Forster, John Masters, with perhaps a lingering lurid touch of Gordon Sinclair, plus some bawdy bits of Noel Coward. We look forward eagerly to your return and to hearing at first hand of this great experiment to develop a sixth of humanity along an independent life of progress.

We thank you for your exhaustive efforts on behalf of The Empire Club of Canada and the honour you have brought our Club. We wish you and Mrs. Michener God speed, a pleasant and rewarding tour of duty and a safe return to us. On behalf of all here physically and the 2,805 who in spirit join us in our "au revoir"-I present you with this tray appropriately engraved to commemorate your Presidency.