Phil Goff’s position as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is now “untenable”, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has made clear, after “deeply disappointing” comments the former Auckland Mayor made about United States President Donald Trump.
Asking a question of Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Elina Valtonen at a Chatham House event in London this week, Goff said he had been rereading a speech by former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1938 after the Munich Agreement.
“He turned to Chamberlain, he said, ‘You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war’,” Goff said.
“President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?” . .
It’s a valid question to which some, perhaps many, would answer no. But the some, perhaps many, aren’t New Zealand ambassadors who are paid to be diplomatic.
Even without the importance of our trade with the USA this was a major and very undiplomatic blunder. Given the concern over possible tariffs and the President’s very thin skin, it was a sackable offence.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
2 comments:
Lets just hope Donald Trump is aware of the sacking.
Two birds with one stone.
Appeasement to Trump and Goff gone.
What do we expect from ex-politicians who are given the jobs of professional diplomats, as a reward for being good party hacks? I'm surprised that T Mallard has survived so far in Ireland.
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