Thatcher Lets Slur Slip Out on Live TV
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher let the term “Japs” slip out when referring to the Japanese on television Thursday. Her office said today she had been “under stress” during the live broadcast interview.
Thatcher was asked repeatedly about the economic policies of her government by Alastair Burnet of Independent Television News in a program called “TV Eye.”
Speaking about Britain’s 13% unemployment rate and efforts to increase productivity, Thatcher said this country should try to tackle its problems “the way the United States and Japan did.” She cited enterprising small businesses, customer-winning ways and reasonable prices of Britain’s competitors as practices her country should emulate.
Competition Efficient
“We are competing with highly efficient people, with the Germans, with the Japs, and you’ve got to run jolly hard to keep going,” she said.
The Associated Press called the press office at 10 Downing St., Thatcher’s residence and office, to ask about the prime minister’s use of the term the Japanese regard as recalling their enemy status in World War II.
“In any live TV interview one is under stress,” said a spokeswoman, who would not permit the use of her name. She would not elaborate.
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