[(2) The Times, 14 September 1977]
Thatcher pledge on defence
Mrs Margaret Thatcher today explained in detail to President Carter the Conservative Party's reservations about aspects of new Anglo-Rhodesian peace initiative.
In a meeting at the White House she said that while welcoming the general approach of the blueprint - its emphasis on an end to fighting, democratic elections and so on - she and her colleagues were âoevery concernedâ? about the suggestion that the existing Rhodesian security forces should be disbanded.
Predictably, she also emphasized the Conservative Party's belief that Britain must live up to its full Nato commitment. The present Government had twice embarked on defence cuts in recent years and some of these would have to be restored when the Conservatives took office, she said.
Moreover, her Government would do its utmost to ensure that its contribution to the alliance's defence effort rose by 3 per cent a year in real terms as the United States and other members of the alliance had promised.
The Leader of the Opposition was less forthcoming about other aspects of her deliberations with Mr Carter, telling reporters that she expected to be pressed for details but would decline to respond. One of the topics which was almost certainly raised was the future of Concorde in the United States which President Carter and his advisers are now discussing.
In response to persistent questioning about whether she had urged Mr Carter to authorize landings for the supersonic airliner at more American airports she would only say that the President had been âoevery helpfulâ? in the past.
She was considerably more effusive about the qualities of her host. Mr Carter was âoea delightful personâ?, âoevery easy to get on withâ? and she was âoevery happy to meet himâ?, although (as an afterthought) she had, of course, already met him before.
Asked whether she still intended to meet Mr Bert Lance, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, who may well announce his resignation in the not too distant future, she seemed a little confused.
One of her staff stepped in quickly to assure reporters that the meeting was still planned for tomorrow afternoon but, given Mr Lanceâs âpreoccupationsâ, it might not take place.
Asked wryly by an American reporter whether she had any personal view of Mr Lanceâs predicament, she replied promptly: âoeActually I have some tact. You wouldn't get very far in my job if you didn't.â?
The Conservative leader ends her eight-day visit to the United States tomorrow with a press conference, a luncheon with editors of the Washington Post and an appearance on the Today programme on television. During her three days in Washington she will have met most of the key figures in the new American Administration, including Mr Cyrus Vance, the Secretary of State, and Mr Harold Brown, the Secretary of Defence. [end p1]
[(3) The Times, 14 September 1977]
Tory leader denies split in party over closed shop
Mrs Thatcher yesterday firmly denied reports of a split among Conservative Party leaders over industrial relations policy. But she appeared to come down on the side of Mr Prior in his argument with Sir Keith Joseph. Mr Peter Walker also attempted to heal the breach between the two men.
Conservatives would âmitigateâ injustices
Mrs Thatcher denied today that there has been a split in Conservative ranks over the closed-shop issue. Speaking in Washington, after a meeting with President Carter at the White House, which lasted 45 minutes, she said that her party's attitude to legislation enforcing the principle of closed shops was unchanged. âoeWe do not like it and we are opposed to itâ?, she declared.
But the Leader of the Opposition said she did not believe that a Conservative government could introduce legislation against the closed shop on taking office.
What it must do, however, was to âmitigateâ some of the injustices inherent in present legislation. It was unfair, for example, that someone who had worked with a company for many years could now be dismissed not because he was inefficient but because he refused to join a trade union. Moreover, if he was dismissed he was not entitled to compensation.
Mrs Thatcher was responding to what Mr Prior, the Conservative Party spokesman on employment, has described as âoedifferences of emphasisâ? between himself and Sir Keith Joseph, the partyâs spokesman on industry, on the closed shop. From her remarks to journalists outside the White House. Mrs Thatcher appears to be aligning herself with Mr Prior and other voices in the Conservative Party urging moderation rather than âoeunion bashingâ? in its approach to the closed shop. [end p2]