Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Press Conference after Tokyo G7

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: New Otani Hotel Tower, Tokyo
Source: (1) BBC Radio News Report 1800 29 June 1979 (2) Financial Times, 30 June 1979
Journalist: (1) James Long, BBC, reporting (2) Reginald Dale, Financial Times, reporting
Editorial comments: Available on CD-ROM only. 1730-1820 local time. All seven leaders spoke at this press conference, making brief closing statements. Lord Howe in his memoirs, Conflict of Loyalty, records that MT spoke without notes, "but far from extempore" her contribution "sparkled" compared with what had gone before (pp138-39). See also the Guardian. 30 June 1979: "Mrs Thatcher said that she had changed her mind on national targets [i.e., dropped her opposition], partly because they would have no meaning for Britain and partly because it helped ensure that the US, Canada and Japan would make long-term commitments to reduce energy consumption and give oil import targets for the years to 1985". Daily Express: "And Mrs Thatcher said: "The object of the package was to show a determined resolution" She deplored the oil price increase and added: "It affects us all economically and politically. The implications are worldwide. For the s
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 984
Themes: Energy, Foreign policy - theory and process