Sir, – Chris Johns wrote an interesting analysis piece on Scotland, until he hit his last paragraph: "The euro still exists, despite many forecasts to the contrary, because of Europe's detestation and fear of petty nationalism. There is absolutely nothing about Scottish nationalists that endears them to Europe's elites. They should expect a very cold welcome in Brussels and Frankfurt" ("Potential for unintended consequences if Scots choose independence", Business Opinion, September 5th).
Come again? Who suggested the idea of European federation but a Scot, Prof James Lorimer, in 1884? Who was a key member of the convention discussing a European constitution but Lorimer’s successor in the “Law of Nature and of Nations” chair at Edinburgh University but the late Sir Neil MacCormick MEP, son of the founder of the SNP?
Besides, Eurocrats in Brussels will be, unlike Mr Johns, careful whereof they speak: they live cheek by jowl with two “petty nations”, Flanders and Wallonia, far more awkward than us Scots. – Yours, etc,
CHRIS HARVIE,
University of Tübingen,
Brechtbau,
Wilhelmstrasse 50,
Tübingen,
Germany.