Interviewer
Prime Minister, in quite a dramatic fashion President Bush and yourself were handed a wire service report from the Soviet Union about the threat of economic sanctions against Lithuania. What was your immediate reaction to that bare bones report?
Prime Minister
First, it was not at all clear precisely what changes had been made in Soviet policy towards Lithuania. We looked at the flash very carefully and there were several different interpretations and we decided that it would not be possible to make a pronouncement until we had found out more facts.
We both equally said that the important thing is not to increase tension but to reduce it so that you can get discussion going. So we are concerned about it but we are not quite certain of the extent to which supplies are being withheld. [end p1]
I remember that when Mr Gorbachev saw Douglas Hurd just a few days ago, I think I am quoting correctly from what Douglas said, that Mr Gorbachev had promised that essential supplies would not be withheld.
Interviewer
At the start of your press conference you said: “We agreed on just about everything” , that does imply areas of disagreement, is it possible for you to articulate what those were for us?
Prime Minister
No, I do not think there were any areas of disagreement. But you know “just about everything” is just the natural way in which you would express it. We agreed on just about everything, I could not think of anything on which there were areas of disagreement.
Oh yes, thank you for reminding me, we do not agree about the Vietnamese refugees. We agree that people who are refugees should not be returned but there are those who are not genuine refugees but come for economic reasons and as you know we say those should be returned. That is a disagreement between us.
Interviewer
Did Mr Bush restate his policy to you on that? [end p2]
Prime Minister
No, there is really no change in their policy or ours. We pointed out that Hong Kong cannot take any more and if it were ever to be thought that people could just leave one country in large numbers and go to others, then we should all have very considerable difficulties in the whole Western world.
Interviewer
The future shape and security of Europe was naturally a key issue on your agenda. Are you as one on how NATO should proceed, how the CSCE should proceed and about the reunification of Germany?
Prime Minister
There was no difference on that at all. NATO is the forum for defence, it is this alliance which has kept the peace for such a long time and will keep it into the future. So all our defence issues are considered and agreed upon in NATO.
As you know, the President and Jim Baker want it to have a larger political role and I think that is right because I think it very important that all of the countries of NATO, being both sides of the Atlantic, should get together more frequently to discuss than we do now. This is the heart of the free world, this is what has kept the world free and this is really the only forum in which we discuss both sides of the Atlantic. [end p3]
And then you move to across the European divide and really the forum there is both the Atlantic community nations and the previous communist nations, the East European nations, and the only place which we all discuss together, apart from the United Nations, is the Helsinki Agreements which about thirty-five nations signed, and we really think it would be very very valuable for them, particularly the nations of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, if we had discussions right across this divide more frequently than we do now. So really the two things are complementary.
Interviewer
Were you looking for the President's support of any kind for your stance that air launched nuclear missiles should be stationed in Germany, the new Germany and Britain in the future?
Prime Minister
We agree that, and so does Chancellor Kohl, it is vital that American forces continue to be stationed in Europe and we agree that the unified Germany should stay in NATO and therefore that American forces should continue to be stationed in Germany. We also agree, and it is in the comprehensive concept, that nuclear weapons must be kept up-to-date. Therefore you do need also in the NATO strategy short-range nuclear weapons and clearly the short-range nuclear weapons must be kept up-to-date. [end p4]
If there is any change in the present position that would need to be discussed in NATO but that we continue to need short-range nuclear weapons is not in doubt.
Interviewer
Even if Congress, as it now appears, is likely to refuse to fund those short-range missiles?
Prime Minister
We shall keep the present Lance until 1995, we also have the present nuclear bombs stationed in Europe, as you say the air launched ones. Those are both classified as short-range nuclear weapons. The important thing is that we will continue to have up-to-date short-range, American short-range nuclear weapons stationed in Europe.
Interviewer
The President is keen that political unity and union in Europe remains strong and grows ever strong as an anchor of stability if you like, do you think that he wants European unity quicker than you do?
Prime Minister
I have never yet found anyone who gave me an adequate definition of political unity in Europe, I am looking for one. [end p5]
Interviewer
When you met President Bush off his helicopter this morning he said: “How are you Margaret” and you said: “I have never felt better in my life” —were you talking physically or politically?
Prime Minister
I am fine physically and I think when the time comes for it to be put to the test I shall be fine politically.