Day 273 - 03 Jul 96 - Page 34

     
     1
     2   Q.   And then over the page there is the extract from the
     3        transcript, and can I just say that we have actually
     4        provided the Plaintiffs with a tape recording of this
     5        section of the debate.  This was so they can verify the
     6        accuracy of the transcript.  The debate that took place on
     7        the 8th December, 1939 you were an invited speaker were
     8        you?
     9        A.  That is right, yes.
    10
    11   Q.   And was Michael Matthews an invited speaker?
    12        A.   Yes, he was.
    13
    14   Q.   And was it a kind of tit-for-tat thing?
    15        A.   It was reasonably polite but that was the idea that
    16        they had in mind, I think, was for the allegations to be
    17        addressed by both parties.
    18
    19   Q.   Right.  And if I can just read the relevant passage Michael
    20        Matthews is quoted as saying: "I am here specifically to
         address the rumours that you put to me about my company.  I
    22        can also state categorically that we are not in any way
    23        trying to fudge the argument on beef use, in, say, for
    24        example Central America.  We are remarkably aware how
    25        sensitive that issue is and always has been.  We have
    26        never, and I am saying it here categorically, and I very
    27        well know, we have never used rainforest beef anywhere in
    28        our stores in Central and South America.  Our supplies of
    29        beef to restaurants in these countries have to have a
    30        certificate proving that it has not come from previously
    31        rainforested land".
    32
    33             Then he goes on, and people can read that for
    34        themselves.
    35
    36   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Well, I do not think the rest is relevant.
    37        Yes.
    38
    39   MR. MORRIS:  Okay.  Then if we can just move on.  Sorry, do I
    40        have to confirm that?  That is your recollection of that?
         A.   I can simply say that I did the transcript myself and
    42        I took very great care to put in every pause, hesitation,
    43        and the rest.
    44
    45   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I do not think there is any contest, you see,
    46        so it can be taken quite shortly.
    47
    48   MR. MORRIS:  I did see one actual error but it was totally
    49        insubstantial.
    50
    51   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  Very well.
    52
    53   MR. MORRIS:  If we go on to your third statement, dated 20th May
    54        1996.  This is not signed.  It was to sent us as a draft.
    55        Statement by Patrick Smith, 8 Mansfield Road, Nottingham:
    56
    57             "In my earlier statement made on the 21st October
    58        1939 I explained that during 1987 Veggies Limited, a
    59        cooperative based in Nottingham, have reprinted the "What's
    60        wrong with McDonald's Fact Sheet" which is the basis of