SIR,—As a moderately serious person, north of the Border admittedly,
I am astonished at the tone of your editorial paragraph, Scotland's Claims, in the Spectator of December 2nd. First of all, you state that "250,000 persons out of an adult population of 3,000,000 have signed the Covenant demanding an independent Parliament for Scotland. . . ." This may not be meant to be misleading, but it very definitely is so. If you had inserted the word " already " before " signed," it would have been fairer. Actually the Covenant campaign had been going for less than- a month when the quarter-million figure was reached. It has now passed 400,000, and is gaining momentum day by day. A million signatures was the target set by the Scottish National Assembly which launched the campaign on October 29th, and it now seems obvious that vastly more will be forthcoming.
Then you comment that, " It is certain that the great majority of serious persons north of the Border as well as south would support no such solution." You may, Sir, be entitled to claim to speak accurately for the south, but the north is refuting your contention daily. And, after all, it is the north's. business, is it not? Perhaps you are unaware, when you say that the claim is for an independent Parliament, that what is asked for in the Covenant is a Parliament with adequate legislative authority in Scottish affairs, within the framework of the United Kingdom, and in all loyalty to the Crown. In other words, approximately the status that Northern Ireland enjoys today. Is that so extreme a proposal? The Unionist Party's proposals for Scotland, which you commend, admit the need for separate administration as far as the Northern Kingdom is concerned. Why accede so much, and then deny legitimate Scottish aspiration by refusing a Parliament ? Why concede a body, and then deny a head? Is it not that the over-riding pre- occupation of the Unionist Party is that the purse-strings should be tightly held by the Treasury in Westminster ?
The Scottish National Assembly, aforementioned, is a widely repre- sentative body, consisting of delegates from town and county councils, the Churches, political parties, professional organisations, trade unions, cultural societies and public bodies of all kinds. To suggest that these are not serious persons is to betray lamentable ignorance of the subject.
I would suggest, Sir, that the Spectator, for the sake of its excellent reputation, should send up an impartial enquirer to ascertain the true Position as regards Scottish public opinion, and thereby render a real service to its readers and serious but uninformed opinion in the south generally. I write as one who has always voted Unionist in the past.—
Chairman, The National Covenant Committee, Edinburgh Area. The Cross Cottage, A berlady, East Lothian. .
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