ABSTRACT
The Treaty of Union has been regarded by some Scotsmen as a take-over bid effected on terms more favourable to England than to Scotland. Remote control is bad in itself so far as it undermines initiative among those who suffer from it. It may become disastrous if it is exercised by men who are unable to see beyond their own limited horizon. English politicians and administrators seldom express themselves quite so obtusely; but too often they also seem equally insensitive, and even hostile, to Scottish criticisms and claims. The stop-and-go policy is well illustrated by what happened to the Scottish members of the National Association of Local Government Officers. In the crisis of a general election party politicians may occasionally get a brief glimmering of the truth. It is unable to look beyond its own immediate profit or loss; and it is so far from Scotland that it fails to descry any special problems there.
