Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Radio Interview for IRN (Paris G7 Summit)

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Arche de la Defense, Paris
Source: Thatcher Archive: COI transcript
Journalist: Peter Spencer, IRN
Editorial comments: After lunch.
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 1156
Themes: Executive (appointments), Civil liberties, Economic policy - theory and process, Environment, Trade, Foreign policy - theory and process, Foreign policy (Asia), Foreign policy (USSR & successor states), Foreign policy (Western Europe - non-EU), Law & order, Famous statements by MT (discussions of)

Interviewer

There have been a lot of achievements at this Summit, a lot of the decisions have gone very much your way, what for you is the most important?

Prime Minister

I think it has been one of the most constructive and cooperative Summits we have ever had and I think it has covered a wider swath of subjects than we have ever had. We have debated and discussed the economy many times before. We all know what we have to do to keep it on course, to keep growth growing, to keep inflation down and to try to create jobs. And so it is not surprising that we can agree on that fairly quickly although there are a number of outstanding problems, like a tendency to protectionism and also we are a bit concerned that some nations have a colossal trade balance and others not. But on the whole we can get through those fairly quickly. [end p1]

But the environment you know, it is related to the economy and it is related to the kind of world one wants to hand on to one's children. The scientific results are such that we simply have to take action to maintain the environment and to stop the seas being polluted and to stop the atmosphere being polluted. I think you will find the largest part of the communique is devoted to that and the steps we shall take.

And the third thing, again very people-related, we have had problems with drugs before, there is a new one now, crack, which is related to cocaine, which is causing immense problems which are leading us to step up our efforts to get at the money which those drug peddlers try to put away. If we can stop them getting at the money we might be able to stop the drug problem from getting worse.

Interviewer

If I can turn to the new help for Poland and Hungary, Mr Gorbachev has reacted positively. Do you think this will create a fresh momentum, do you think we could see a Group of Eight in future years?

Prime Minister

I think that would be a little bit premature. The Group of Seven are free market countries, free enterprise countries, knowing the benefits of the market, having far more in the private sector, and knowing that that has created far more prosperity and growth for our people. [end p2]

I think the Soviet Union wants to change her economy very much indeed. She wants to have that prosperity, it is going to take a very long time to do it because her people are not used to exercising the initiative or taking responsibility.

I most earnestly hope that she does solve her economic problems and get to the higher prosperity. I do not think it is going to be in the near future.

Interviewer

But if she does would you welcome her in?

Prime Minister

Well, if she does she would be a very big country and we would have to consider that. But there are also other big countries you know, India is a very big country and now running a very much market private sector economy because she realises that that will give her people a better chance.

Interviewer

Meanwhile, in the communique on China there is only a very passing reference to Hong Kong. Someone said that it was bland and meaningless, do you think it will reassure the people of Hong Kong? [end p3]

Prime Minister

It is a reference to Hong Kong which tells the people of Hong Kong that if we are concerned about what happened in China, we understand why they are even more concerned and we understand that they need the support of the international community to keep their present prosperity going and constantly to be thinking about Hong Kong and the problems she may face in the future.

And I think it is some comfort to her that whenever people meet in international session and there are several Heads of Government and State there we are always thinking about Hong Kong and putting something in the communique to let them know we are thinking about them and to try and reassure them and support them.

Interviewer

Yes, but they are just words, surely what they would like to see is action, especially against the possibility of an Armageddon scenario there?

Prime Minister

I think the most important thing is to keep the prosperity of Hong Kong going. Hong Kong is very very valuable to China and China has promised that after 1997 Hong Kong's way of life will continue. Our first duty is to try to see that that international agreement which was registered with the United Nations is honoured and therefore Hong Kong keeps her prosperity. That we are trying to do and we shall have the support of the international community in doing that. [end p4]

Interviewer

In the margins we have read a great deal about sniping between you and the French which started with your remarks about the French Revolution. Do you think, on reflection, that it was perhaps a little unkind of you, it is the only Revolution they have got and they are very proud of it?

Prime Minister

No, nor do I think very much to your comment. I was asked about human rights and whether I thought human rights started two hundred years ago. Most certainly they did not and I gave the reasons why they go right back to Judaism, to Christianity, they go right back to Magna Carta, they go right back to our Bill of Rights, 1689 after we had our 1688, the American Statement of Independence 1776 was one of the most brilliant pieces of English literature in proclaiming the liberties of man and the government is there to serve the liberties of man.

These are facts and at the end of the Economic Summit I thought President Mitterrand was really rather generous. He accepted yes that there were other views about the start of human rights but the fact is, do not forget, they may have started, probably did start in France two hundred years ago, and that is something to celebrate. The fact that they may have started elsewhere earlier is something for us to celebrate earlier. It does not alter France's celebration in it coming to France although it came with a rather unhappy start. [end p5]

Interviewer

So in spite of the fact that you were once or twice booed and hissed, and in spite of the fact that the French Prime Minister was slightly uncomplimentary about your revolution, the entente does remain cordial?

Prime Minister

Very cordial and there was very little booing and hissing indeed. I should think 95 percent of the people on the way just cheered, “Madam Thatcher” , cheers. I was not certain whether they were French or whether they were tourists or whether they were English on holiday, whoever they were it was very very welcome and very noticeable.

Interviewer

Just one final point on the matter of political ructions. There is the Cabinet reshuffle very much in prospect, have you made your plans yet who is for the chop?

Prime Minister

No. No. What is the matter? You asked me a straight question, I have given you a straight answer!