Day 077 - 25 Jan 95 - Page 72
1
2 Q. Is that right? Had you been trying for four years?
3 A. Yes, for four years we had been working to get balance
4 sheet beef.
5
6 Q. The second paragraph: "However, there is one particular
7 snag which I must clarify with you. You expressly asked
8 that we should not handle Brazilian beef and I promised you
9 that I would ask for Australian or New Zealand beef and I
10 now find that we have been allocated Brazilian beef.
11 I have discussed this with our agent, Weddel & Co., and the
12 reasons we have been allocated Brazilian beef is as
13 follows: (1) Australian beef at the moment is being sold to
14 the North American and Japanese markets, and its cost is
15 approximately 94p per pound. (2) The Brazilian beef is 69p
16 per pound compared with the current British market price of
17 79p to 80p per pound. Indeed, if Weddel deliver this
18 ex-ship direct to the Plant the price could drop by a
19 further 3p per pound." Over the page, page 11: "What is
20 important, however, is that the Brazilian beef is
21 slaughtered and deboned in Weddel's own plant in Brazil
22 under permanent veterinary supervision, and obviously the
23 plant has full EEC status and approval."
24
25 Then you repeat what Weddel has told you about sailing too
26 close to the wind in view of the date of the licence
27 expiry. You are asking him to accept this small quantity
28 of some 24 tonnes of Brazilian beef. At the end of the
29 next paragraph, last sentence, you say: "This beef will be
30 perfect forequarter meat, killed and boned under British
31 veterinary supervision in a Vesty works in Brazil. So
32 I hope I have your understanding on this to proceed.
33 I have mentioned this matter to Paul Preston." Had you
34 mentioned it to Paul Preston?
35 A. Yes.
36
37 Q. The next page 12, 17th May 1983, you write to the Managing
38 Director of Weddel. Do you see that?
39 A. Yes.
40
41 Q. "Dear Peter, Brazilian Beef, I confirm the gist of our
42 telephone conversation a few moments ago and also enclose a
43 copy of a letter in confidence which I have written to Bob
44 Rhea, Managing Director of McDonald's UK on the subject of
45 Brazilian beef."
46
47 Skip the next paragraph, please. The one after that: "You
48 will read my letter to Bob Rhea that I virtually begged him
49 after so much trouble to be able to use Brazilian beef in
50 McDonald's manufacture. I have just this morning received
51 a telephone call from Bob Rhea and I now know the political
52 reason for the instruction." This is 17th May. Were you
53 conscious of the political reason for the instruction
54 before 17th May, do you think?
55 A. No.
56
57 Q. "I hasten to add on his responsibility" that is Bob Rhea's
58 responsibility "he has given me permission to use Brazilian
59 beef." Is that true or false?
60 A. True.
