1 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,800 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 2 00:00:06,879 --> 00:00:13,599 with me George Gallow and me gatri this 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:17,160 week in 1940 London was burning as it 4 00:00:13,599 --> 00:00:20,119 would for 58 consecutive Nights by the 5 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:23,240 end of the German Blitz 8 months one 6 00:00:20,119 --> 00:00:25,880 week and 3 Days Later huge parts of 7 00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:29,279 Britain's industrial hotland had been 8 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:31,199 devastated as many as 200,000 British 9 00:00:29,279 --> 00:00:33,760 people over overwhelmingly civilians 10 00:00:31,199 --> 00:00:36,960 were dead or wounded whole streets were 11 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:39,120 wiped out shipyards factories Railway 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:42,079 infrastructure and even Parliament were 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:44,800 badly damaged and yet we never did 14 00:00:42,079 --> 00:00:46,760 surrender when Mr Churchill told his 15 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,600 cabinet colleagues many shifting 16 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:52,280 uneasily in their chairs that not until 17 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:54,760 he and they lay there on the cabinet 18 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:57,640 room floor choking on their own blood 19 00:00:54,760 --> 00:01:01,440 would they succumb he really meant it 20 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:03,640 one man Lord Alan Watson CBE has 21 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,920 specialized in this endlessly 22 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:09,400 fascinating subject and he has a new 23 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:11,720 book Churchill's legacy two speeches to 24 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:14,119 save the world and I'm glad to say he 25 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:16,560 joins us now on the Sputnik Lord Watson 26 00:01:14,119 --> 00:01:19,040 welcome uh to you we'll come to your 27 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:21,720 book and the uh matters there in in a 28 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:25,439 moment but as this is the anniversary of 29 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:27,520 the beginning of the blitz on London 30 00:01:25,439 --> 00:01:30,560 when londoners despite this 31 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:33,000 extraordinary bombardment by and large 32 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:37,159 kept a stiff upper lip kept calm carried 33 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:41,880 on and never dreamt of surrendering uh 34 00:01:37,159 --> 00:01:45,439 to the uh Slaughter how much of that in 35 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:48,640 your view was due to the leadership of 36 00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:51,280 Winston Churchill Churchill was decisive 37 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:54,320 uh I think one of the reasons he was so 38 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:57,439 important was that it was unimaginable 39 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,079 to him that Britain would surrender and 40 00:01:57,439 --> 00:02:01,000 certainly Britain would never surrender 41 00:01:59,079 --> 00:02:03,320 unless they were beaten to the ground 42 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,640 beaten to pulp and you quoted what he 43 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,079 said to his cabinet members many of whom 44 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,800 were not very happy to hear that 45 00:02:07,079 --> 00:02:10,800 definitely shifted on very Shifty you 46 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:14,519 know putting on their tin hats but the 47 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:16,959 fact is uh he was absolutely confident 48 00:02:14,519 --> 00:02:19,879 in the ability of the British people and 49 00:02:16,959 --> 00:02:22,120 of Britain to resist and that's of 50 00:02:19,879 --> 00:02:24,400 course what they did the other thing is 51 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:27,319 his rhetoric his speeches there's no 52 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:30,480 doubt that the speeches he made in 1940 53 00:02:27,319 --> 00:02:32,560 had huge impact and they're of course 54 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,040 world famous and everybody knows them 55 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:37,280 fight on the beaches and fight in the 56 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:40,040 streets and all that and uh I think 57 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:42,280 people were having had no real 58 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,200 leadership not knowing what was actually 59 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:48,400 going to happen suddenly to hear the 60 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:50,560 this voice making it absolutely clear 61 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,840 that the determination was there I think 62 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:56,480 it was very important for people like me 63 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:58,040 or someone specifically like me of part 64 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:00,440 Irish 65 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:03,720 leftwing uh it's very difficult for 66 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:09,080 people to understand my admiration for 67 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:10,879 church young my stand is that whatever 68 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,000 he did before or for that matter 69 00:03:10,879 --> 00:03:16,120 whatever he did 70 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,400 afterwards if not for that moment and 71 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:21,319 that stand by that 72 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:23,480 man well we'd be conducting this uh 73 00:03:21,319 --> 00:03:25,560 discussion in German and the entire 74 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:28,640 history of the world would be completely 75 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:31,319 different yes and he knew that he was 76 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:34,000 standing at that Al point in history he 77 00:03:31,319 --> 00:03:35,840 was well aware of that and you remember 78 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,400 he said that I feel that the whole of my 79 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,519 life has been a preparation for this 80 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:43,239 moment and so indeed it was so he knew 81 00:03:40,519 --> 00:03:45,000 what the odds were it's not that he was 82 00:03:43,239 --> 00:03:48,439 romantic about it I mean he'd looked 83 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:51,799 into the abyss he knew what could happen 84 00:03:48,439 --> 00:03:54,640 but he was absolutely determined and I 85 00:03:51,799 --> 00:03:56,599 think his ability to communicate the 86 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,239 speeches that he made and as you know 87 00:03:56,599 --> 00:04:01,040 I've been writing about the speeches 88 00:03:58,239 --> 00:04:04,439 after the second world war 194 46 uh 89 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:06,799 they play a huge role in the world and 90 00:04:04,439 --> 00:04:10,200 unesco's now actually recognized these 91 00:04:06,799 --> 00:04:13,040 speeches as being um Testaments of 92 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:15,400 Freedom uh equal historically if you 93 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:17,160 like to Magna carter and other things so 94 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,440 George's admiration for Churchill is 95 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:22,000 such that we have a large picture of 96 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:25,759 Churchill in our dining room wall that 97 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:28,759 is next to chear and and you in but um 98 00:04:25,759 --> 00:04:31,199 it's unknown really amongst the left and 99 00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:33,800 I just wonder why why do the left hate 100 00:04:31,199 --> 00:04:35,240 him so much apart from him being a Tor I 101 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,520 don't know that the left really does 102 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:42,000 hate him so much I mean the fact is one 103 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:45,600 of his most stalwart allies in 1940 was 104 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:47,080 Ernie bevon the Trade union leader and 105 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:50,000 historically if you look at the debates 106 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:53,160 in that cabinet which were so decisive 107 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,680 in June 1940 the labor party's support 108 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,560 for what he was trying to do was 109 00:04:54,680 --> 00:05:00,120 absolutely clear she's talking about 110 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,720 people to the left of er B I know that 111 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:05,440 but uh it's true that he had a very 112 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:07,919 checkered uh past but let's not uh uh 113 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:10,919 take up more time on that because I want 114 00:05:07,919 --> 00:05:13,280 to turn to your book which is a terrific 115 00:05:10,919 --> 00:05:16,320 uh volume it's here and in the United 116 00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:20,080 States and it's dealing with just two 117 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:22,919 speeches after he had left office when 118 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:25,919 most people think well Churchill really 119 00:05:22,919 --> 00:05:29,720 finished in 1945 there's a huge human 120 00:05:25,919 --> 00:05:32,080 drama here I mean Churchill leaves potan 121 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,319 and um there it is you know there's 122 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,199 there's an apocryphal story which you 123 00:05:34,319 --> 00:05:39,720 will allow me to tell I suppose that 124 00:05:36,199 --> 00:05:41,800 when he left poab uh Marshall Stalin 125 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:44,240 said to him not to worry because as he 126 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:47,800 said I have never lost an 127 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:51,960 election so there we are that was true I 128 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:54,800 think that was true but um the fact is 129 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:57,319 he fell from this great height he 130 00:05:54,800 --> 00:06:01,199 expressed it in terms of altitude he he 131 00:05:57,319 --> 00:06:05,240 dropped from 38,000 ft to ground level 132 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:07,039 and his morale was absolutely Shattered 133 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:10,319 by his election defeat in 134 00:06:07,039 --> 00:06:11,960 1945 which he brought partly on himself 135 00:06:10,319 --> 00:06:14,280 I mean he did not fight a good election 136 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:17,280 campaign but the fact is he was out and 137 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:20,240 he said to Lord Moran who was his doctor 138 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:22,360 it would be better that I were dead and 139 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,479 he also said the Flies are gathering on 140 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,720 the corpse he was his morale was 141 00:06:24,479 --> 00:06:29,240 shattered and then this extraordinary 142 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:32,479 thing happens he's sitting in Chartwell 143 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:34,120 and his a de comp puts a letter in front 144 00:06:32,479 --> 00:06:35,800 of him from a college that nobody 145 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:38,520 actually had heard of Westminster 146 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,440 College Fulton Missouri and the bottom 147 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:43,199 of the letter it invites him to go there 148 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:46,000 get an honorary degree make a speech and 149 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:47,479 down the bottom in handwriting from the 150 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,599 new president of the United States 151 00:06:47,479 --> 00:06:51,759 Truman is this sentence which says this 152 00:06:49,599 --> 00:06:54,080 is a fine College in my home state if 153 00:06:51,759 --> 00:06:56,000 you come I will introduce you and 154 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,680 Churchill immediately thinks that means 155 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,919 18 hours in a train with the new 156 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:03,039 president of the United States 157 00:06:59,919 --> 00:07:05,879 so of course he accepts and the speech 158 00:07:03,039 --> 00:07:08,000 is made and it is highly dramatic and 159 00:07:05,879 --> 00:07:10,280 what Churchill was saying in the Fulton 160 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:12,599 speech it's now known as the Iron 161 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:16,520 Curtain Speech but if you really look at 162 00:07:12,599 --> 00:07:19,360 the speech he's actually saying a very 163 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:22,560 interesting thing he's saying peace is 164 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:26,759 possible but peace has to be in Europe 165 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:30,000 peace has to be based on a recognition 166 00:07:26,759 --> 00:07:31,960 of equality and a respect 167 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,479 and that means strength because the 168 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:36,160 Russians respect strength and indeed 169 00:07:34,479 --> 00:07:39,639 they do they have it and they always 170 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:41,759 have and uh so what he was arguing was 171 00:07:39,639 --> 00:07:44,039 that America and Britain ought to make 172 00:07:41,759 --> 00:07:45,440 it clear to the Soviet Union that they 173 00:07:44,039 --> 00:07:47,800 had a position and they were going to 174 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,840 stand on it and if there was any uh 175 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:52,440 intrusion into Western Europe there 176 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:54,280 would be real trouble and at that point 177 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,000 of course the United States had a 178 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,400 nuclear Monopoly didn't last very long 179 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,800 but they had it and so that's what he 180 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:03,120 was proposing the the speech was hugely 181 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:05,479 controversial in America the roselt 182 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:08,440 family didn't like it at all and when 183 00:08:05,479 --> 00:08:11,199 Winston left New York there were 4,000 184 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,319 demonstrators saying no war Winston you 185 00:08:11,199 --> 00:08:13,599 know things like I would have been one 186 00:08:12,319 --> 00:08:17,000 of those you would have been there with 187 00:08:13,599 --> 00:08:20,400 your P I have absolutely no doubt but 188 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:23,759 anyway he sails away and 189 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:26,520 um the drama then really unfolds it's 190 00:08:23,759 --> 00:08:28,000 extraordinary inside the Tory party 191 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,560 there were people who really wanted him 192 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,320 out and Lord Salsbury was one of them 193 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,320 and of course Anthony Eden was desperate 194 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,159 to get into number 10 you see and they 195 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,039 were going to give him a dinner party 196 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:39,440 and say well Winston great speech and 197 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:41,159 all that but you know what you really 198 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,919 ought to do is make speeches like that 199 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:45,880 not lead the opposition in Parliament 200 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:47,600 which is boring really and you know 201 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:50,839 Anthony's here and he's very happy to 202 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:52,880 take over and of course this afternoon 203 00:08:50,839 --> 00:08:56,320 this afternoon and Winston's the sap has 204 00:08:52,880 --> 00:09:00,200 risen you see and uh he the controversy 205 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:02,160 has sparked him and he's already said 206 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,000 the ship is delayed by 4 hours going 207 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,920 into Southampton and by then he's 208 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,720 already said to the media I am going to 209 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,519 fight the next election you see and I 210 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:12,959 will get aty out of Downing Street wow 211 00:09:10,519 --> 00:09:15,600 but then he makes he makes the second 212 00:09:12,959 --> 00:09:19,800 speech six months later in zerck 213 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:21,880 Switzerland and what I think I hope is 214 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,920 an important contribution to the history 215 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,440 out of what I've written is that I've 216 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:29,399 made the connection between these two 217 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:31,920 speeches Fulton Missouri and zir now why 218 00:09:29,399 --> 00:09:34,880 when Winston was in the United States to 219 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,640 make the first speech he had a second 220 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,440 task which the British government had 221 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,720 given him and they were saying to him 222 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:43,880 for God's sake Winston persuade the 223 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:46,240 Americans to renew Len lease were broke 224 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,720 we bust the damage that you described at 225 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,120 the beginning we've got to restore it 226 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:53,519 they must give us some money they must 227 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:55,720 lend us money and uh he got nowhere with 228 00:09:53,519 --> 00:09:57,240 that absolutely nowhere despite all his 229 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:00,160 networking on the hill and everything 230 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:02,360 else they all said absolutely not 231 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:05,880 and I think because he was half American 232 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:09,399 he got what the Europeans would have to 233 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:11,440 do if they were going to untap American 234 00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:12,880 generosity and that was they had to 235 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,240 actually get their act together 236 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:17,160 themselves so in Zur he gets up and he 237 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,839 says it's wonderful you know he's got 238 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:21,399 the solemn Swiss audience in front of 239 00:10:18,839 --> 00:10:24,120 him and he says I shall startle 240 00:10:21,399 --> 00:10:26,600 you we have got to have a kind of United 241 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:30,360 States of Europe and it has to be led by 242 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:33,600 a partnership between France and German 243 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:36,279 September 1946 theber trials going on 244 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:39,399 can you imagine amazing the go goes 245 00:10:36,279 --> 00:10:41,519 apoplectic apoplectic it's just as 246 00:10:39,399 --> 00:10:44,639 controversial as the first speech but 247 00:10:41,519 --> 00:10:46,920 the truth is that in a way you can say 248 00:10:44,639 --> 00:10:49,160 that these two speeches kickstarted a 249 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:53,240 process and I've argued that one of 250 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:56,480 which leads in effect to Nato and the 251 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:58,519 Western Alliance but the other leads 252 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:00,560 perhaps more significantly in the end 253 00:10:58,519 --> 00:11:02,760 historically to the col and Steel 254 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:05,720 Community to the Marshall Plan and to 255 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:07,920 all of that so these are speeches Tove 256 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:10,760 the world to the indeed to the European 257 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:13,200 Union I'll tell you what I would be a 258 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:15,720 taker for the United States of Europe I 259 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,680 campaigned against the European Union 260 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:21,519 there' be a taker for a Democratic 261 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:23,920 elected United States me too we both do 262 00:11:21,519 --> 00:11:26,079 that Lord Watson you're a fascinating 263 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,519 man it's a fascinating book the very 264 00:11:26,079 --> 00:11:30,880 best of luck with it and thanks for 265 00:11:27,519 --> 00:11:33,360 coming on the SP much coming up next 266 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:35,360 when Adam and Eve ate the apple against 267 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:38,000 instructions we all know what happened 268 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:42,440 next when Ireland took just a little 269 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,440 nibble at the Apple well don't miss 270 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,920 it welcome back to Sputnik the 271 00:11:47,079 --> 00:11:52,440 right-wing government in Ireland is in a 272 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:54,560 real pickle over Apple sweetheart tax 273 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:57,160 arrangements made with the giant 274 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:59,560 multinational Apple Corporation have 275 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:02,560 been ruled by the European Commission to 276 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:04,839 be illegal state aid and have ordered 277 00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:08,760 the Sovereign government in Dublin to 278 00:12:04,839 --> 00:12:13,360 recover a staggering 13 billion E from 279 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:16,040 Apple Plus another €6 billion EUR in 280 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:18,320 interest it is just one of the average 281 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:21,040 minority government's many crisis and 282 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:23,519 may yet bring it down joining us now is 283 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:25,920 the General Secretary of the connley 284 00:12:23,519 --> 00:12:28,440 association Michael carty Michael 285 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:31,440 welcome on board James connley after 286 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:34,199 whom you're Association is named would 287 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:38,720 be turning in his grave wouldn't he at 288 00:12:34,199 --> 00:12:42,320 the idea uh that the Irish people were 289 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:44,959 led by a government that said to a giant 290 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,639 multinational corporation actually we 291 00:12:44,959 --> 00:12:49,199 don't want your tax money and we're 292 00:12:46,639 --> 00:12:51,920 going to fight anybody who tries to make 293 00:12:49,199 --> 00:12:53,000 us take it I suppose from James Conley's 294 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,120 perspective I think what would have 295 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:57,760 riled him more would be having an 296 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:59,680 external force force outside of Ireland 297 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:03,399 not accountable to any of the taxpayers 298 00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:05,839 in Ireland um telling the Irish 299 00:13:03,399 --> 00:13:07,920 government how it should run its 300 00:13:05,839 --> 00:13:09,560 taxation policy is not a competency of 301 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:12,160 the European Union the European 302 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:14,560 commission has has no place in telling 303 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:16,800 uh the Irish government to do that and 304 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:18,680 this essentially is a power grab by 305 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:22,320 technocrats in Brussels it's happening 306 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:24,720 in a wider wider political context uh 307 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:27,320 post brexit context for example but I 308 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:29,600 think from connell's politics that 309 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:30,639 external interference in the Affairs of 310 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,600 Ireland would have been something that 311 00:13:30,639 --> 00:13:35,000 angered him more well he would curse 312 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:37,279 both these things would he obviously 313 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,760 he'd curs the fact that Ireland was so 314 00:13:37,279 --> 00:13:42,000 Craven towards a multinational 315 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:44,560 corporation that it allowed them to 316 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:47,199 operate on its soil and didn't Levy a 317 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:50,399 proper rate of tax on them and as you've 318 00:13:47,199 --> 00:13:53,240 just said denounce the 319 00:13:50,399 --> 00:13:55,920 supranational uh dictating uh by the 320 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:58,560 European Union we're I mean I'm we are 321 00:13:55,920 --> 00:14:00,480 no big fans obviously of Brussels either 322 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:02,839 but but this is in fact they're quite 323 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,560 right on this position right it it is 324 00:14:02,839 --> 00:14:06,759 really ridiculous is a paradox isn't it 325 00:14:04,560 --> 00:14:08,639 Michael I mean we we campaign to leave 326 00:14:06,759 --> 00:14:10,160 the European Union but on this the 327 00:14:08,639 --> 00:14:11,880 European Union is right and The 328 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:14,880 Sovereign government is wrong it's quite 329 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:17,040 a difficult question um in that look 19 330 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:18,800 billion euros the 13 billion plus the 331 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,519 interest would obviously be of enormous 332 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,240 value to the people of Ireland 333 00:14:20,519 --> 00:14:25,680 especially when they've been Laden with 334 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:28,120 64 billion of uh banking debt by the 335 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:30,320 European Union uh they've gone through a 336 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:32,800 massive a project but people shouldn't 337 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:34,600 be misled into thinking that this 19 338 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:37,040 billion is going to appear in the form 339 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:39,480 of new hospitals or services that have 340 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,279 being CAU being rein could if the Irish 341 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:45,360 people elected a government that was of 342 00:14:41,279 --> 00:14:46,839 that mind it could but I and the cony 343 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,880 Association would defend the right of 344 00:14:46,839 --> 00:14:51,399 the Irish government to appeal against a 345 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:53,639 decision of the European commission to 346 00:14:51,399 --> 00:14:55,639 in an area where the European commission 347 00:14:53,639 --> 00:14:57,120 doesn't have the competency to do that 348 00:14:55,639 --> 00:14:58,880 with all respect to you I'm not sure 349 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:01,440 you're right about that the the the 350 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:04,440 European commission is right that Apple 351 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:07,360 was acting both as a resident and a 352 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:09,880 non-resident uh participant in uh the 353 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,639 economy in Ireland so I don't think any 354 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,120 appeal will be successful my 355 00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:15,399 understanding and this is just from 356 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,759 having a looked at briefing papers 357 00:15:15,399 --> 00:15:19,839 produced by De octus in Dublin is that 358 00:15:17,759 --> 00:15:22,160 the Irish government recognized that 359 00:15:19,839 --> 00:15:24,519 there was a mismatch in the taxation 360 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,240 arrangements for Apple between its tax 361 00:15:24,519 --> 00:15:28,480 status in America and in Ireland which 362 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,279 led the company to be stateless you know 363 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,759 which which is not even a flag of 364 00:15:30,279 --> 00:15:33,000 convenience no it's it's something 365 00:15:31,759 --> 00:15:36,240 that's essentially they didn't even 366 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:38,240 treat Ireland like Liberia used to be 367 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:39,680 treated by the owners of tankers that's 368 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,759 it it's an incredible arrangement and 369 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,399 something any transnational Monopoly 370 00:15:41,759 --> 00:15:45,199 would would seek an arrangement like 371 00:15:43,399 --> 00:15:48,240 that now Irish government claims have 372 00:15:45,199 --> 00:15:51,000 addressed that in legislative terms to 373 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:53,240 ensure it won't happen again but I think 374 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:55,519 the key issue is and it's a difficult 375 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,000 one as I say because of the question of 376 00:15:55,519 --> 00:15:58,600 of this money that people think is going 377 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:01,079 to sort of rain down on top of them and 378 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:03,120 Maryland now you have the fact that the 379 00:16:01,079 --> 00:16:05,519 decision's been made abroad where there 380 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,759 hasn't been uh the European commission 381 00:16:05,519 --> 00:16:09,880 doesn't have a competency for taxation 382 00:16:07,759 --> 00:16:11,880 okay now it desires one and it pushes 383 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:16,079 for one it doesn't have a competency for 384 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:18,759 that also the fact that the the profits 385 00:16:16,079 --> 00:16:21,279 which this taxation supposedly Ares from 386 00:16:18,759 --> 00:16:23,440 are derived from other operations and in 387 00:16:21,279 --> 00:16:27,279 the commission ruling it says that other 388 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:30,279 countries can can claim their portion of 389 00:16:27,279 --> 00:16:33,600 those taxes that including America other 390 00:16:30,279 --> 00:16:35,240 uh EU countries and US countries so when 391 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:38,319 it isn't actually profit generated in 392 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:42,000 Ireland and but stray from abroad well 393 00:16:38,319 --> 00:16:46,839 uh you you know that Apple has something 394 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:49,880 like 300 billion euros in the bank never 395 00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:52,880 mind its assets as a whole they could 396 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:55,319 pay this money without noticing a in 397 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:57,480 their bank statement for me and I have 398 00:16:55,319 --> 00:16:59,759 zero Sympathy for the Apple corporation 399 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,279 i' I'd like to make that clear C you V 400 00:16:59,759 --> 00:17:04,640 absolutely no sympathy for them but the 401 00:17:02,279 --> 00:17:08,720 issue here for me as as an Irish man as 402 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:10,760 a Democrat isign is who decides what 403 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:12,720 levels of tax are paid in Ireland and 404 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:15,160 that should be the Irish people well of 405 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:17,760 course it it Ireland is responsible for 406 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:21,079 its own tax rate but the commission has 407 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:24,319 ruled that this was in effect state aid 408 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:26,919 uh that transfer pricing was in play and 409 00:17:24,319 --> 00:17:31,000 that basically the company was running 410 00:17:26,919 --> 00:17:33,400 rings around all taxation uh 411 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:35,919 jurisdictions and with the connivance of 412 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,360 a right-wing government in Ireland but 413 00:17:35,919 --> 00:17:41,440 you're right to say you're right to 414 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:43,640 point to this uh very weird dichotomy 415 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:47,400 that you the Conley Association as an 416 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:50,480 anti- capitalist uh organization in your 417 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:53,840 bones Conley said that running a green 418 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:55,960 flag over up over Dublin Castle uh 419 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,880 without changing anything else would be 420 00:17:55,960 --> 00:18:00,799 no Independence at all what we've got is 421 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:04,400 a green flag with a green flag 422 00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:07,120 government that actually acts as a slave 423 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:08,720 to the to the multinational corporations 424 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:11,080 there's a huge difficulty with with how 425 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:13,000 Ireland is governed and the the nature 426 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:16,720 of the government there at the moment 427 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:18,200 now I as as I say I I would never be uh 428 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,200 and the cony Association wouldn't be in 429 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,640 the position of living in Britain and 430 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,880 telling people in Ireland what type of 431 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,559 government they should elect be it 432 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:28,080 leftwing or rightwing but the fact of 433 00:18:25,559 --> 00:18:29,159 the matter is the Irish State at the 434 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,760 moment 435 00:18:29,159 --> 00:18:34,320 is quite dependent on foreign direct 436 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:37,000 investment to the point of almost of of 437 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:38,679 no return without radical change and 438 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,720 that comes about from Ireland's Colonial 439 00:18:38,679 --> 00:18:43,320 history it comes out about because of 440 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,960 the partition of of the island it' be 441 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,480 very difficult to establish for example 442 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,200 a protectionist economic model when you 443 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,679 have citizens living in an occupied 444 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:54,000 territory who would effectively be 445 00:18:49,679 --> 00:18:55,320 punished by it and um Now by membership 446 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,960 of the European Union which of course 447 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,760 Ireland was cohered into being a member 448 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:01,000 of through the Anglo Irish Free Trade 449 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:02,679 Agreement and a secret Clause later 450 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,960 acknowledged with aish t-shock that 451 00:19:02,679 --> 00:19:07,159 forced Ireland into the common market 452 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:09,080 and Ireland then comes into a position 453 00:19:07,159 --> 00:19:10,520 where it's entered a second active Union 454 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:13,480 both active unions have destroyed what 455 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:16,559 little industry the country had and is 456 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:19,080 is now in a position where even even to 457 00:19:16,559 --> 00:19:21,880 to beg for foreign direct investment 458 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:24,120 that you have an outside force again 459 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:26,640 saying to it look you're not allowed to 460 00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:30,520 do it uh your particular way well what's 461 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:34,480 the uh impact of all of this uh going to 462 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:37,159 be on the Irish political scene uh it's 463 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:40,159 a minority government uh a very 464 00:19:37,159 --> 00:19:42,640 unpopular one everything from water 465 00:19:40,159 --> 00:19:45,080 pricing to the collapse of the National 466 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:48,080 Health Service due to the austerity 467 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:49,880 imposed by the European Union uh 468 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:53,080 insisted upon by the European Union 469 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:56,720 after the crash and so on is the 470 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:59,080 government going to survive and uh is 471 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:02,120 there an alternative on offer for the 472 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:04,000 Irish people like another IR exit 473 00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:06,440 following the British brexit well I 474 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:09,880 think IR exit as it's as it's becoming 475 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:11,760 known um first time I've heard that is 476 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:13,480 is really the only the only plausible 477 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,120 option available now you have a 478 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,640 situation where at the moment even 479 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:19,159 before article 50 has been invoked here 480 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,840 and from the association we believe it 481 00:20:19,159 --> 00:20:23,120 should be as soon as possible but you 482 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:26,159 have a situation where Ireland the Irish 483 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:28,760 State the south is within the uro Zone 484 00:20:26,159 --> 00:20:31,480 it does 2third of its trade out the Euro 485 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:34,480 zone so it does 2/3 of this trade with a 486 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:36,880 currency that uh it it has no influence 487 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,480 over the value of when Britain leaves it 488 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,760 leaves the European Union it'll do 489 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,600 two-thirds of its trade outside of the 490 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,320 European Union it's the only country in 491 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:46,080 that situation Ireland is now a net 492 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,720 contributor to the EU so any money 493 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:49,679 Ireland receives back is only Irish 494 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:52,400 money being recycled through Brussels we 495 00:20:49,679 --> 00:20:53,840 pay for a few technocrats along the way 496 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,559 um we lose billions in fishing 497 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:58,400 industries so major political issues in 498 00:20:55,559 --> 00:21:00,159 Ireland that that there Mass 499 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:02,440 mobilization around at the moment 500 00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:05,960 opposition to water charges opposition 501 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:08,760 to bin charges um The Campaign against 502 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:11,120 homelessness to build social housing all 503 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:13,760 of these things are restricted if not 504 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:15,679 dictated by European Union directives 505 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,679 Mass surveillance of email Irish 506 00:21:15,679 --> 00:21:20,080 parliamentarians having to run private 507 00:21:17,679 --> 00:21:23,080 member bills past the European Central 508 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,960 Bank to check their economic competence 509 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:27,640 before they put to the Irish Parliament 510 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,640 all of these issues are a you is the 511 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:30,840 elephant the room and when anything to 512 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,559 do with Irish politics has been 513 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:35,000 discussed has going to have massive 514 00:21:32,559 --> 00:21:36,960 implications through the peace process 515 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:40,000 brexit will if not if it isn't followed 516 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:42,440 by our exit huge implications this would 517 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:44,200 paradoxically of course 100 years on 518 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:48,679 from Eastern 519 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:51,760 196 bring Ireland back uh closer to 520 00:21:48,679 --> 00:21:54,880 Britain uh that's another of the the 521 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:56,919 many strange dichotomies in this story 522 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:59,600 it's it's extremely strange in that 523 00:21:56,919 --> 00:22:01,720 we've had the entire na celebrating uh 524 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:03,679 1916 and the Centenary of the 525 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,240 Proclamation of the Irish Republic 526 00:22:03,679 --> 00:22:07,480 talking about unfettered control of 527 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:09,159 Irish Destinies the right of the people 528 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,799 of Ireland to the ownership of of 529 00:22:09,159 --> 00:22:12,799 Ireland and yet an issue like the 530 00:22:10,799 --> 00:22:15,320 European Union isn't being discussed 531 00:22:12,799 --> 00:22:17,720 when we look at um say future 532 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:19,960 anglo-irish relations in the context of 533 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:22,440 post brexit you have a situation where 534 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:24,400 following the end of the Cold War you 535 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,240 had the space created where the British 536 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:29,559 military didn't need to control Northern 537 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,159 Ireland as Atlantic route to Europe you 538 00:22:29,559 --> 00:22:33,240 had the peace process to Good Friday 539 00:22:31,159 --> 00:22:35,400 agreement follow on from that now if you 540 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:38,520 have a situation where Northern Ireland 541 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:40,200 remains in the UK but outside of the EU 542 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:43,679 the south is in the EU in an ever 543 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:46,240 increasing common security and defense 544 00:22:43,679 --> 00:22:48,120 policy Britain there will certainly be 545 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:51,039 interests in Britain in maintaining a 546 00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:53,720 foothold in Ireland for for security 547 00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:56,760 reasons it's a the 548 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:59,480 amount all the different levels to this 549 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:01,440 debate now it's as I say incredibly 550 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,080 complex but for Ireland economically 551 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,080 politically and in terms of Irish 552 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,679 unification the only option is to leave 553 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:10,520 the European Union the European union 554 00:23:06,679 --> 00:23:14,039 now is one of the most strong Fetters to 555 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:17,360 Irish unity and it's an incredible thing 556 00:23:14,039 --> 00:23:19,200 when that that is rarely discussed in in 557 00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:22,039 relation to the is I'll raise a glass of 558 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:23,960 water to that Michael Cy of the Conley 559 00:23:22,039 --> 00:23:26,600 Association thank you very much indeed 560 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,600 for joining 561 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,279 us 562 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,240 and now it's your turn to tell us what 563 00:23:30,279 --> 00:23:34,880 you think through the portals of social 564 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:38,000 media what's rattling G so our show on 565 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:41,159 Churchill uh sted up quite a debate on 566 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:44,600 social media we had as we expected lots 567 00:23:41,159 --> 00:23:47,480 of left people leftwing people really 568 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:50,679 really hating him just like our glass 569 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:53,360 galok Singh he says up till their deaths 570 00:23:50,679 --> 00:23:55,840 My dundonian World War I veteran 571 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:58,200 grandparents would spit At The Mention 572 00:23:55,840 --> 00:24:00,240 Of Churchill's name well and D 573 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,480 especially because he was the MP there 574 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:04,760 and he got thrown out his car was 575 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:07,640 overturned and he promised to see the 576 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:10,880 grass grow on the streets of dundi so 577 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:14,039 he's HED there on um Ireland and apple 578 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:17,520 David Beckham 4M says Ireland gave of 579 00:24:14,039 --> 00:24:20,320 oil rights and agreed with apple 500 tax 580 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:23,799 in every million pound Ireland is going 581 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:27,320 backwards although as was explained uh 582 00:24:23,799 --> 00:24:28,640 we we are here in a a gigantic Paradox 583 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:32,840 the Europe 584 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:35,320 is correct to say that allowing these 585 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:37,760 kind of sweetheart deals will merely 586 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:39,880 create a race to the bottom and then 587 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:42,880 eventually a race out of the European 588 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:46,799 Union by these companies alog together 589 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:49,520 at the same time did Ireland rise and 590 00:24:46,799 --> 00:24:52,520 fight for independence in order to be 591 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:54,799 dictated to not by London but by 592 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:57,480 Brussels and that's all the tweets for 593 00:24:54,799 --> 00:24:59,320 today which alas means that's the end of 594 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:02,399 the show but you can stay in touch with 595 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:04,799 us on social media on Twitter at rtor 596 00:25:02,399 --> 00:25:07,320 Sputnik or on Facebook Sputnik on Russia 597 00:25:04,799 --> 00:25:11,080 today it's goodbye from me gri and from 598 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:24,080 me George Galloway it's been 599 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:27,080 [Music] 600 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,080 marvelous