John Potts

OLIVER Hardy would have had the words for it, "Another fine mess you've gotten me into." In the middle of the mess is Home Secretary Jack Straw, and he was gotten into it by a feisty Spanish judge, some ham-fisted Foreign Office officials and his own uncharacteristic fumbling ineptitude.

The Spanish judge applied for the extradition of former Chilean president Pinochet, to face trial for crimes in Chile against Spanish nationals. The Foreign Office greeted Pinochet's arrival in Britain for medical treatment with full diplomatic courtesies, then failed to uphold his diplomatic status. Jack Straw has dilly-dallied over the legal process and allowed things to get progressively worse.

Let me make it clear: I hold no brief for Pinochet, who was undoubtedly a ruthless scourge of those who opposed his rule. As such, he was typical of too many dictators in turbulent South American and African states.

The difference is that he is a Right Wing brute, and therefore ripe for the kind of retribution which people like Peter Mandelson do not urge for, say, Fidel Castro.

It matters not to me whether Pinochet stands trial and pays the penalty. It does matter that Britain stands to lose out as our traditional links with Chile are seriously damaged. It is reported that the Spanish government, with similar interests, wanted Britain to free Pinochet, to avert the embarrassment of a trial in Madrid.

What does annoy me is our lack of consistency. It is urged on Jack Straw that he send Pinochet home on compassionate grounds - he is an old, sick man.

We should remember how he refused to extradite Bernadette Devline's daughter to Germany to face charges of terrorism, on the grounds of ill-health (she seemed to recover remarkably well later).

Look at the case of Judge Richard Gee. He went on trial accused of major mortgage fraud. After a jury failed to agree, a new trial was ordered. Yet Labour's Solicitor-General, John Morris, banned a new trial on the grounds that Gee was "too stressed." I imagine Pinochet is stressed, too.

Judge Gee was granted £1 million in legal aid, claiming he could not afford to pay for his own defence. Yet he has three homes, one on Long Island, New York, one in Portugal's Algarve and a £475,000 pad in Chelsea. They are in his wife's name (of course), but aren't husbands and wives meant to share in good times and bad?

Last week, Gee applied to the High Court for the return of £100,000 of his own money, which he spent on his defence before being granted legal aid. Sense prevailed, and he failed. This may have little to do with Pinochet and, I repeat, I care little whether he ends up behind bars, so long as Britain behaves in a consistent manner and is not made to look foolish.

In passing, think how little joy we get when we apply for the extradition of criminals. Brazil hangs on to Ronnie Biggs, France shelters an MI5 sneak, the United States and Ireland rarely give up IRA bombers. Think about all that, Mr Straw.

DOES anyone beside me think that soprano Lesley Garrett goes ever so slightly over the top? I enjoy her singing and her Saturday night music show is a welcome oasis in a desert of dross.

But I think she overdoes the hearty, down-to-earth Yorkshire lass bringing culture to the masses. Ease off a bit, Lesley, particularly in the talking bit. But carry on singing.

THE Christian ethic of forgiveness is a noble one, but when Princess Diana's former friend James Hewitt admits to an error or judgement in betraying their secrets, then adds, "But I am a Christian and I forgive myself" I'm not sure it's what Christ himself intended.

Very convenient, though. Must try it.

1/12/98

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.