Evening star., 1932-11-27
In SCOTLAND
BECOMES MAJOR ISSUE
Rival Plans Projected to Set Up Own
Parliament, but With Single Defense
ard One Foreign Policy.

far as possible" and that these should
be under "joint executive control
1t does not advocate the erection of
a tariff barrier between England and
Scotland and believes that the admin
istration of the British crown colonies
should be the joint concern of both
countries
For the purpose of administering
these and ether matters of mutual in
terest between Scotland and England,
the party suggests the establishment of
representative British council upon
basis to be agreed between the Parlia-
ments of England and Scotland but
thinks it premature at this juncture to
define in detail the express nature of
such a council. This council, it is
urged, should submit all schemes involv-
ing financial contributions from Eng
land and Scotland for imperial pur-
poses to the Parliaments Of the two
countries for ratification.
Treaty Powers Stressed.
It Is stressed that any treaty or mill
tary or naval agreement entered into
with any other nation by the joint coun-
Gil must be ratified by the Parliaments
Of both countries before it is binding
on either. This would also apply to
qucotiO1lS VI pSdCc anu WAL.
The party. manifesto ends with the
expression of opinion that cooperation
between England, Scotland and the
other members of the British Common
wealth must be on footing of equality
and in keeping with the true concep-
ton of the sovereignty of Scotland"
The proposals Of the National party
thus imply the setting aside of the
union of 1707 and the conception of an
other union en- what might be described
as federal lines, while resuming the
sovereignty of the Scottish state as a
mother country The Scottish self gov
ernment party. as the Duke of Mont
roses group has come to be known,
urges that the government be asked to
introduce and pass government
bill for Scotland whose main provisions
would embrace the establishment of
Parliament which would be the final
legislative authority on purely Scottish
affairs, and whose powers should con-
Germ matters not expressly reserved to
the Imperial Parliament, such as sue
cession to the crown, peace and war, de-
fense forces and foreign affairs, but
which should include the control of
finance and taxation. It Is suggested
that statutory commission be set up
to determine how best to deal with GUS
toms and excise without involving tariff
barriers.
Union Of Parties Unlikely.
These provisions, of course, directly
traverse the aims of the National party,
and it Is unlikely that union between
the party and the Scottish self-govern-
ment party or "Moderates," Will take
place, especially as the Duke of Mont
rose las already stated publicly that
the National party's manifesto en-
visageS breach of the Union of 1707.
But it is not unlikely that conversa-
tions between the groups will take place,
although the hope of agreement upon
common basis of action Is remote.
John MacCormick, secretary of the Ma
tional party, has, however, given it as
his opinion that the differences between
the two bodies are negligible.
Other and more extreme bodies exist,
such as the Direct Actionists, with
whom but little public sympathy Is re-
vealed. But many responsible leaders
of thought in Scotland who belong to
no particular group or party admit the
necessity for change IN the admins
tration of Scottish affairs. chiefly In
view of the severe dislocation of busi-
ness and an unemployment problem
which statistics reveal to be so per cent
more acute than that recorded in Eng
land.
Certain Unionist bodies, too, such as
the Cathcart Unionist Association. have
issued home rule manifesto on moder-
ate lines. and that the question Is now