Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Christmas Message for Radio Vaticana

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: No.10 Downing Street
Source: Thatcher Archive: COI transcript
Editorial comments:

Between 1000 and 1200 MT recorded Christmas messages and interviews.

Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 205
Themes: Foreign policy - theory and process, Civil liberties, Religion & morality, British relations with Italy

This is Margaret Thatcher, speaking from No. 10 Downing Street in London and wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a good New Year.

The Christmas message is one of peace and goodwill to all men and this year, we can feel that message is being heard. We have seen an end to one war—the war between Iran and Iraq—which cost countless thousands of young lives. There is hope too that the fighting will soon be over in Afghanistan and Angola. Between East and West, there has been the agreement to reduce nuclear weapons, and we hope soon to start talks on bringing down other sorts of weapons too.

These prospects for a more peaceful world have not just come about by chance. They have happened because we had faith, because we stood firm for the values in which we believe and for fundamental human rights which are given by God and which no government can take away. [end p1]

As we look to the year ahead, let us dedicate ourselves anew to that faith, to those values and to that idea of Christendom with its recognition of the unique and spiritual nature of the individual, which has guided our European civilisation through so many troubles and dangers to our present good fortune.

It is with that message that I wish you all a good New Year.