Scots Wha Hae Mr. Macmillan has a masterful way with
delegations, particularly if they come from Scot- land. He can always cool the militant and bring a glow to the admirer. They emerge from the meeting, their faces wreathed in smiles, assuring all in sight that the Prime Minister, as a good Gael, cares deeply about Scotland's predicament. After the Scottish TUC's pilgrimage to Admiralty House in January, one trade unionist said: 'If it were left to Mr. Macmillan, I'm sure some- thing would be done,' rather as if he had just left a good-natured but powerless Prime Minister prey to the whims of his southron Ministers. Last week a task force of businessmen, under the guise of the Scottish Council, arrived in London to.do their bit of special pleading. Led by one old Etonian, Lord Polwarth, they were delighted by the casual assurance of the other. The Prime Minister's careful efforts to qualify every assur- ance he gave were almost forgotten amid a genial haze of elation. Readers of the Scottish press must have felt the same sense of elation, for reports of the meeting carried few of the Prime Minister's qualifications either. Reporters did not glow so warmly, though. The meeting ended at 6.45 p.m. But the attendant press heard nothing about it until 8 p.m., less than an hour before the first editions of most Scottish papers go to press. There was no time to write in the qualifications. These things are well managed at Admiralty House.
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