Day 077 - 25 Jan 95 - Page 74


     
     1        Worldwide Wildlife Association, and the whole matter has
     2        not got to the desk of Fred Turner in Oak Brook, Head
     3        Office Chicago, who issued a worldwide edict that no
     4        McDonald's plant was to use Brazilian beef."  Had you heard
     5        of that edict before that conversation 17th May with Bob
     6        Rhea?
     7        A.  No.
     8
     9   Q.   You go on: "What I have asked you for this morning is for
    10        you to approach Lord Sam", indeed is that Lord Sam Vesty?
    11        A.  Yes.
    12
    13   Q.   "Indeed I would do it myself, for a letter to the effect
    14        that the Vesty Organisation has for a number of years been
    15        killing beef in Brazil and that Brazilian beef probably is
    16        in terms of numbers second only to the Argentine in South
    17        America, and all beef emanates from the States which are
    18        long established and in no way is this beef coming from
    19        reclaimed land from destroyed rainforestss.  With my
    20        knowledge of the Vesty Organisation, and indeed my personal
    21        friendship with people who have worked in Brazil, I am sure
    22        this is correct."  This is David Walker speaking in May
    23        1983.  Were you sure that it was correct?
    24        A.  Yes, I was absolutely, because of the exchange of
    25        management.  I knew people who worked in Barretos.  I knew
    26        people who had come from Barretos back to Australia.
    27
    28   Q.   Do you think from your knowledge of him that Lord Vesty
    29        would write, as it were, a certificate, a letter of
    30        certification, that beef did not come from rainforest areas
    31        if in fact it did?
    32        A.  No, he would never do that.
    33
    34   Q.   We will look at the Lord Vesty letter in a moment which
    35        came shortly after this.  In the end do you know who it was
    36        that approached Lord Vesty for that letter?  Was it
    37        Mr. Bartram or was it you?
    38        A.  I think it was Peter Bartram.
    39
    40   Q.   You go on: "If Lord Sam would be kind enough to write to me
    41        confirming these facts and the fact that the cattle from
    42        estates established up to 100 years by now, the letter will
    43        be kept filed here in McKey and a copy will be sent to
    44        McDonald's in London,.  Possibly the Managing Director of
    45        McDonald's Bob Rhea will use the letter to backup our
    46        business with Weddel and explain to Fred Turner in Chicago
    47        the reasons for his decision. I realise that what we are
    48        talking about is political.  I can assure you that there is
    49        no intention for anybody to send Lord Sam's letter back to
    50        Buckingham Palace, but we must have belt and braces in this 
    51        situation." 
    52 
    53        If you would turn back, I am sorry about this, to the end
    54        of your statement in this file which is behind the main tab
    55        file, you will I hope find a copy of the Lord Vesty's
    56        letter of 6th June 1993.  Is it there?  What I would ask
    57        you to do with that, Mr. Walker, is to turn back to the end
    58        of the file where you were a moment ago, just following
    59        your letter to Peter Bartram of 17th May, the second page
    60        of which should be numbered 13?

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