Day 284 - 22 Oct 96 - Page 40


     
     1        is.
     2
     3   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, but is it other than a connection of
     4        responsibility or causing or blame?   Surely that is the
     5        whole punch of this.  I mean, if you say no, I will have to
     6        make a decision on the matter.  I have to make a decision
     7        anyway.  I just want to know whether there is any genuine
     8        dispute about it.
     9
    10   MR. MORRIS:   Obviously we are saying they are indirectly
    11        responsible, but all I am saying is whether that is the
    12        meaning is in terms of --
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   That is what I want to know, are you
    15        actually challenging, and I am taking you to be speaking on
    16        behalf of Miss Steel as well on this, is there any real
    17        dispute that that is what the leaflet means?
    18
    19   MR. MORRIS:   It does not say to me McDonald's cause
    20        starvation.
    21
    22   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   No.  The way McDonald's have pleaded it is
    23        are to blame for starvation in the Third World.  That is
    24        the last clause in meaning A.  So if you are saying no, it
    25        does not mean that McDonald's are to blame for starvation
    26        in the Third World, I will make a note and I will turn my
    27        mind to it.
    28
    29   MR. MORRIS:   Right.  For a start in that meaning A, they have
    30        restricted it to --
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Do not worry about that.
    33
    34   MR. MORRIS:   As a result.
    35
    36   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Forget the restriction.  What I must get to
    37        grips with is whether you actually dispute that the leaflet
    38        means that McDonald's, by whatever route, are to blame for
    39        starvation in the Third World.  I mean, if there is any
    40        doubt about it, I will just make a note that you do not
    41        accept that it means that.  (Pause)
    42
    43   MR. MORRIS:  We do not accept that the meaning is McDonald's are
    44        to blame for starvation in the Third World.  We accept that
    45        McDonald's have a connection with poverty and hunger and
    46        starvation through the way it is described on that page,
    47        and that their connection is as part of a collective
    48        economic process.  We have the comments in the general
    49        section of the pleadings, if you remember, some of those
    50        relate to these issues. 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, divider 8. 
    53
    54   MR. MORRIS:   I can't remember.
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have got it as divider 8 in my abstract of
    57        pleadings.
    58
    59   MR. MORRIS:   Right.  Whether I can find mine is another
    60        question.  (Pause) I cannot find mine.  I think it is quite

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