16 SEPTEMBER 1966, Page 14

An Edinburgh Notebook

SIR,—I thank Mrs Winifred Ewing for her list of the trades and professions of Scottish National party candidates (Letters, September 9). It reads like T. S. Eliot's 'Triumphal March.' But that is not quite what I meant by talent.

As for Mrs Ewing's definition of the Scottish National part's aims as being 'an independent Scot- land loyal to the crown within the British Common- wealth,' this is just what Mr Smith has claimed for Rhodesia. Mrs Ewing has omitted to say that her party also stands for an independent Scottish foreign and defence policy, backed by an independent Scot- tish army, navy, and air force. This seems to me to be dotty.

Roxburghshire