John Diefenbaker

The whole British Empire united yesterday to pay tribute to the memory of a great statesman, scholar of wide attainments, and a man of vast human sympathies, Right Hon. Sir Robert Laird Borden, who died in the early morning of his eighty-third birthday.

Meeting in the Prime Minister's Room at the House of Commons in London, the Imperial Conference stood in silence for a few moments, and later Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain moved that the conference record its appreciation of Sir Robert's services to the Empire and send a message of condolence to Lady Borden.

Earlier in the day the British Government had cabled its sorrow to Lady Borden, and the Prime Minister sent the following meesage to Senator Dandurand at Ottawa:

"We have learned with deep regret of the death of Sir Robert Borden after a long career of high distinction in all spheres of public life. His name will be gratefully remembered not only for his services to Canada, but for part which he played in councils of British Commonwealth during the Great War and at peace conference. Please accept and convey to Lady Borden the sincere sympathy of his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom."

Speaking for Australia, Prime Minister Joseph A. Lyons paid tribute to Sir Robert as "a Statesman who played a great part in Empire affairs."

"I have learned with great regret of the death of Sir Robert Borden," Lyons said. "I had the pleasure of meeting him in Ottawa two years ago. All those assembled around the table at the Imperial Conference will, I feel sure, be distressed to hear of his passing."