GIVEN that the President of the European Council has indicated that states breaking away from EU members would require to re-apply for membership, supporters of independence cannot just simply dismiss this view as being wrong ("Van Rompuy torpedoes SNP claims on EU membership", The Herald, December 14).

It is now becoming increasingly clear that, at best, there is a distinct possibility that a vote for Scottish independence would also be a vote for the effective withdrawal from the EU. We remain unaware of what our position would be with Nato; one could reasonably work on the basis that a vote for Scottish independence would entail a similar withdrawal from Nato also. The position with regard to Scotland's current permanent representation - through the United Kingdom - on the UN Security Council is rather more clear: Scotland would lose that special status.

Some would be perfectly happy to leave the EU and Nato and others may argue that the United Kingdom's permanent membership of the UN Security Council is no longer justifiable. For them, voting for independence would be risk-free in those regards.

One thing is certain - a campaign for home rule, after any rejection of complete separatism, would not involve risk to membership of the EU, Nato or the UN Security Council. Nor would home rule risk losing the monetary union the SNP itself wants to maintain with the rest of the United Kingdom.

In all planning one is well advised to consider the ultimate objective and the risks inherent in seeking to achieve it. Here, the objective is the worthy and long-overdue aim of delivering power to Scotland to govern itself. There are two ways to achieve this: nationalism - with the inherent risks set out above - and home rule, which avoids all of them.

Of course, the risk in voting no to independence is that the Unionist and federalist parties would not deliver the constitutional change that most Scots want. I would suggest that risk is lower than those connected with independence and, with SNP support after the referendum, home rule will inevitably become reality in the middle term.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.

CLAIMS that the "cultural card" has either not been played, or played incorrectly, in the independence referendum game of whist (maybe bridge), are further made by David Torrance ("Our culture is more than the result of who rules us", The Herald, December 16). Citing comment from author John Buchan, in 1932, when fledgling Scottish nationalism was finding its artistic feet (or maybe learning how to shuffle the deck), as a focal point of his article, he both acknowledges that cultural differences exist between Scotland and England and that it is largely unproven as to whether Scotland has had a raw deal in regard to its cultural identity as a result of its place in the Union.

Mr Torrance's admission that "the already largely onside Scottish arts fraternity" should surely tell him that the Union isn't providing the safe game of cards that he appears in his article to be assured it is providing. Were it so, I am sure the arts fraternity to which he refers would be happy to continue their game with the Union Flag on the backs of the playing cards.

Ian Johnstone,

84 Forman Drive, Peterhead.

I ASSUME that James Finlay (Letters, December 14) has been in the Gatehouse library for at least a week to digest the White Paper as enthusiasts much more dogged than myself are having to space themselves over at least as long a period to adequately absorb and understand the huge amount of fully-supported information in it.

It does no argument a service to proceed with it on error and it should be pointed out that the Darien Scheme did not bankrupt Scotland, many of whose burghs, particularly those in the east, were going through a sustained improvement, though it certainly bankrupted a large number of Scotland's upper classes, some of whom then took the bribes offered by Daniel Defoe to vote in Scotland's Parliament for the Union and the riches it offered them.

There was no national "great debate" in 1706 and the treaty was signed in 1707 in a secret Edinburgh cellar as the populace rioted against it - a feature all across Scotland.

Scotland, without a doubt then Europe's most literate nation, a condition it had achieved as a small, hugely respected and independent European nation, indeed benefited hugely from the massive part it played in the expanding British Empire, though what that past has to do today with Scotland's future it is hard to see.

The British Empire is history and as it has gone so has most of the benefit Scotland may have had from union with England. History is like that. No condition is permanent and Scottish independence is an inevitable stage on a long journey in an ever-changing world.

Those who seek to determine the future by reference only to the past rarely have any compelling argument to offer.

The only reason anybody would attack Scotland is the abomination at Faslane and those who imagine a non-aggressive Scotland should happily allow itself to be the world's number one target in the event of some lunatic starting a nuclear war show judgment that is seriously flawed.

David McEwan Hill,

1 Tom Nan Ragh,

Dalinlongart,

Sandbank,

Argyll.

I HAVE read the prologue (18 pages) and summary (32 pages) of Scotland's Future and see nothing of which to be afraid; rather the opposite. To look forward to a better and fairer Scotland for my children and grandchildren gives me hope for the future and satisfaction that decisions affecting Scotland will be made by the people of Scotland.

These early pages of Scotland's Future are clearly printed and easy to read and understand, at least to me. No-one should make up their mind on how to vote in the referendum until the summary has been read. If the further 617 pages changes my mind I will let you know.

Gordon L Cowan,

8 Morris Moodie Avenue,

Stevenston.

I NOTE with interest the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year awards for 2013.

First: Andy Murray (tennis), Scottish.

Second: Leigh Halfpenny (rugby), Welsh

Third: AP McCoy (racing), Irish.

Better together? Clearly England needs us.

K MacLeod,

10 Wilson Avenue,

Troon.