Interviewer
Prime Minister, did your talks go well at Camp David?
Prime Minister
Very well indeed. They were very relaxed but very thorough and we were both very pleased with them.
Interviewer
While you were there, the news came through about Czechoslovakia. What was the President's reaction to that and your reaction?
Prime Minister
I think the news had been fairly well foreshadowed so it did not come as a surprise. Our reaction was that it is a step forward in the desire of the people of Czechoslovakia for full democracy and we hope that they will achieve that. It will be another great day for freedom of they do, particularly as we all remember the Prague Spring and Mr. Dub&cek. [end p1]
Interviewer
And Mr. Dub&cek returning today as well.
Prime Minister
Wasn't it marvellous?
Interviewer
Fairly considerable scenes of emotion.
Prime Minister
Yes. Absolutely wonderful. Alexander Dub&cekHe has waited such a long time for it and he was so visionary and just realised that the people needed more freedom and then it was snuffed out.
Interviewer
Could I just ask you very briefly about the Vietnamese boat people. President Bush is not at all keen about the idea of forcible repatriation.
Prime Minister
I do not think anyone is very keen but Hong Kong is a very tiny place. It already has more than five million people and something like 55,000 boat people and it simply cannot take any more and there are troubles, as you know, arising among the boat people. [end p2]
We have, in fact, to put back over the Chinese border something like 35,000 immigrants who come across each year and we are going to have to do the same with those Vietnamese boat people who are not genuine refugees. About 13,000 are genuine refugees and we will have to try to find them homes amongst the countries in the world who will take them.
Interviewer
But the economic migrants, they must and they will be put back?
Prime Minister
We shall, in fact, have to start sending the ones back that have not so far agreed to go back. We have sent some back who have agreed to go back and we have monitored what happens very carefully. The others we shall have to start sending back really in consideration of our duty to the people of Hong Kong. We have found extra money for the Vietnamese boat people but Hong Kong just cannot take any more and so we shall have, therefore, to start the repatriation of illegal immigrants. [end p3]
Interviewer
Can I ask you about your “Sunday Correspondent” and your “Times” interviews? I think people are going to be a little confused.
Are you going to hand over to someone else after you have won the next election or are you going to go and fight a fifth?
Prime Minister
No. The “Sunday Correspondent” asked me would I fight a fourth election and I said yes, so they said would it be likely we would fight a fifth and I think I said well my goodness that is a long way ahead and cast some doubt upon it. I then found that was totally misinterpreted and I found people saying: “Maggie to retire after next election!” I had never intended to retire immediately after the next election, assuming we win it, and so I made it perfectly clear that we had had many many calls saying: “Look” Please go on for the whole time after the fourth election!” and people being upset that there would be any question of us not, so I made it quite clear that by popular acclaim I am quite willing to go on and would like to, to a fifth election. We also have to win the fourth one first.
Interviewer
When you say “popular acclaim” there, this is phone calls personally to you in Downing Street, letters? [end p4]
Prime Minister
Phone calls, letters and people being very very concerned and this terrible phrase: “Oh, but you made yourself a lame duck coming up!” I have never been a lame duck and I do not intend to start now!
Interviewer
But meanwhile there is now to be a leadership contest. Do you regard that as irrelevant or do you regard it as a sign that perhaps all is not well?
Prime Minister
Mr. Brunson, I shall just get on as I always have done with the job next in hand. Next week, like many others, and the week after, will be very busy and I shall just carry on with my duties.
Interviewer
But you cannot be happy about the prospect of the first challenge in fourteen years of your leadership?
Prime Minister
I shall just carry on with my duties in the same way as I always have.
Interviewer
Does it not though to you betoken that something may be wrong, people are unhappy about your leadership? [end p5]
Prime Minister
I shall just carry on with my duties as I always have and I hope do them very well.
Interviewer
Let me put it then one final way, if I may. Is there a danger …
Prime Minister
No.
Interviewer
… it is a different question, if I may.
Prime Minister
Mr. Brunson, if you ask the same question, as I said to another commentator, if you ask the same question four times—you have asked it three—I shall give you the same answer, so please save …
Interviewer
All right, just one final point if I may. I will put just slightly another way if I may:
Sir Anthony Meyer is talking about you now almost regarding yourself as a President for life. He says you are staying too long. [end p6]
Prime Minister
Nonsense! I have never regarded myself in that way at all. I have regarded it then, as now, as the biggest possible honour to be elected for my constituency and then to be Prime Minister representing my country. It is an honour founded in democracy—the greatest possible pride one could have—and one is very sensible of its significance.
Interviewer
So your point then really is as long as people want you, you will stay?
Prime Minister
I would think that reasonable.