Andy I do remember. Did you deal with them with a whatever attitude? Look Canada came within less than 1% of the break up of the Country in the last referendum held by French separatists. Did the UK face the disintegration of the nation by your separatists? No. And would the Queen approve of loosing her La belle province (Quebec) because we took a whatever attitude to the separatists? I don't think she would be amused with us.
Queen Victoria certainly would not have been 'amused'

Still though - it is que Sera Sera - change comes - like it or not! I doubt that the thoughts shared by us on a forum will have any impact on what happens either way.