Margaret Thatcher's Message

I welcome this new publication as a method of putting the Conservative viewpoint before constituents. Both Government and Party need informed and sustained support.

To give the facts in the House of Commons and in Ministerial statements is not enough. For example, I wonder how many people who have written to me on the recent smallpox outbreak, demanding compulsory vaccination for all visitors to this country, have read the Minister of Health's statement to the effect that every one of the five relevant Pakistanis held valid international certificates of recent revaccination.

The two outstanding political matters which will continue to command our attention are the maintenance of world peace and a sound and steady economic growth.

Peace of a kind can often be had if one is prepared to pay the price, but that is not what we are seeking. Our aim is for a peace based on justice and respect for law and the rights of others. There have been many setbacks in 1961 but despite them all we shall continue to strive for the peaceful settlement of disputes and a workable system of disarmament.

The solution to our economic problems is not easy. It is not enough to put up production. What we have to do is to produce the kind of goods our customers require at a price they are prepared to pay and to deliver them on time.

There are now over 24 million people working in Britain. To retain our high standards we have to import each year for every worker £72 worth of raw materials, (petrol, rubber, cotton, wool, etc.), £50 in food, drink and tobacco and £14 of manufactured goods. To pay for these goods every adult must, therefore, average £136 a year in exports.

I believe the measures the Government has taken will help to secure Britain's economic strength but they will only succeed if we are prepared to adhere to them long enough. For the appreciation of this fact we rely on the sense and co-operation of our own supporters.