ANGRY SCOTSMEN

Evening Star, Issue 19659, 12 September 1927, Page 1

ANGRY SCOTSMEN

OBJECTION TO PICTURE “HUMILIATION TO COUNTRY.” The wrath of every good Scut-man in the House of Commons lias been roused by one of Hie new mural paintings in St. Stephen's Hall. It represents tho English and Scottish Commissioners presenting to Queen Anne ad St. James’s Palace the Articles of Agreement for the Parliamentary Union of the two countries in 1707. ’Hie picture is regarded by Scottish members as a “humiliation to Scotland,” because, they say, it represents “ the bartering away of Scotland’s parliamentary independence by a few corrupt Scottish nobles.”

The picture, which was not finished when the comments were made—and its enemies said darkly that it never would he—was hanging where ail Hie world might see it. Groups ol scowling Scotsmen stand in front of it occasionally and mutter.

Scottish members of all parties supported a motion submitted by Air Tom Johnston, the member for Dundee, to reduce the salary of the First Commissioner of Works for daring to put Hie picture where it was hung. A pelition against the picture was going round Hie House as well, and a large number of signatures, which included those of several Englishmen, were obtained.

Mr David Kirkwood, one of the leaders of the movement, said :—“ Wo think this picture represents one of tho blackest episodes in Scottish history. Those who look part in it are’ no credit to Scotland. Two hundred years ago Scotland lost her parliamentary independence—it was sold by a gang of corrupt Scottish nobles—and this picture .inst rubs it in. There arc plenty of other episodes in Scottish history that could bo made the subject of a picture wHbnut offence to Scottish feeling. Why not a picture of James VL of Scotland, wiio was James I. of England, being received iu Parliameit iw King of Great Britain? That ended nil quarrels between England and Scotland. “You can take it from me. (bat wo. ore not going to have that picture,” said Mr Kirkwood grimly and finally. “ And now comes the' most extraordinary thing of all, and tho greatest blow to Scotsmen.” says a London paper. “ The picture has been given for exhibition by a thorough Scotsman— Viscount Younger of Lechie.”