John Humphrys, BBC
Mrs Thatcher says it's ended already, and much of today's discussion centred on the problems Britain will face when we take over the Presidency of the EEC from Holland in July. It was all very relaxed when Mrs Thatcher met Queen Beatrix, but there are some differences between Britain and Holland over fish catches in Europe with Holland dumping unwanted fish on the British market. But it's the French being blamed for blocking a new fisheries agreement, one which Mrs Thatcher told me was almost reached last year.
MT
We ought to have got it and just some things came up at the last moment which prevented it, but the vast majority of the European countries want it.
John Humphrys, BBC
Is it the French being dog-in-the manger?
MT
The French cannot yet bring themselves wholly to agree.
John Humphrys, BBC
That seems a very diplomatic answer. Are they being very difficult?
MT
I have to be very diplomatic if I am to secure the agreement which our people want. And that's the thing that I have to keep in mind. We want the agreement. We want a reasonable agreement for our industry and we want it soon.
John Humphrys, BBC
A Dutch newspaper cartoon today showed Mrs Thatcher as the Iron Nun out to convert the Dutch into accepting nuclear weapons on their soil, and that touchy subject was raised here. But she'd also come to say thanks to the Dutch who'd backed Britain in the battle over the EEC contributions. With the Community running out of money, there are bound to be more fierce rows in Europe, especially with the French, and Britain may well need Holland's support again soon. This is John Humphrys … tape ends