Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 29

     
     1   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, just ask a question.
     2
     3   MR. MORRIS:  Having heard that, would you think that in this
     4        situation that you were in, in the middle of at that time,
     5        maybe there were things going on that you did not know
     6        about and things were not being said to you about the
     7        reality of the situation?
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Can I put it another way?
    10
    11   THE WITNESS:  Please, sir, can I read it?
    12
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you think you knew enough about the
    14        situation, really, to make any sound judgment as to whether
    15        Mr. Cohon was ethical or not?
    16        A.  I am sure he was, sir.
    17
    18   Q.   You obviously have your personal view of him, but you are
    19        just being asked -----
    20        A.  I mean, if I could read this again, please?  It is the
         first time I have ever seen this document.  I mean, all
    22        this says is that Costa Rica supplies Costa Rica.  It does
    23        not say anything more or less than that.  In Costa Rica, I
    24        mean, there is land which has long ago has been cleared.
    25        It is not current rainforest clearance.  But, I mean, that
    26        is again personal opinion.  I think Mr. Cohon was very
    27        ethical.  There was no cutting down or no beef going into
    28        McDonald's from rainforest clearance.  That is what this
    29        gentleman is driving at.  Mato Grosso has been pampas for a
    30        100 years before McDonald's was even founded.
    31
    32   MR. MORRIS:  When you said in your letter, 17th May 1983:
    33         "There is no intention for anyone to send Lord Vesty's
    34        letter if received back to Buckingham Palace", why is
    35        that?  Surely, Prince Philip was concerned about what was
    36        happening.
    37        A.  Well, no, I was trying to indicate that the letter was
    38        in confidence to myself and for me to pass on to McDonald's
    39        officers.  That is what that indicates to me now.
    40
    Q.   So why should it be in confidence?  Surely, it is something
    42        to brag about if you have a ---
    43        A.  No.
    44
    45   Q.   -- a letter backing your position?
    46        A.  No, I disagree with you.  If I have enough influence to
    47        get a letter from the senior principal of a multinational
    48        company, I would treat that letter in confidence.
    49
    50   Q.   The Lord Vesty letter? 
    51        A.  Yes. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Did Lord Vesty want it to remain confidential, his letter,
    54        do you know?
    55        A.  He never said anything to me about it.  He just wrote
    56        the letter.
    57
    58   Q.   If we go to tab No. 47 in that yellow XIV file ----
    59        A.  Tab number?
    60