I had a good personal relationship with Lee Kuan Yew and I used him, in the sense, that he… He made a statement in 1980, and he said in that statement that,
Nor will they perceive the distribution of wealth and resources between nations to be unalterably ordained by heaven and incapable of drastic rearrangement by the less than gentle manipulation of man.
It had things that it could do and which I thought were worthwhile: one would be South Africa, of course. And, as I said, I assumed a leadership role within the Commonwealth on that.
There is no doubt that this government and this country are benefiting from the reforms that we brought in the 1980s, and that couldn’t have been done without the co-operation of the trade union movement.
There is a reciprocal respect for [ Elizabeth II], for her interest in the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth recognise that here is a genuine interest from the top. So, that’s one reason. I’m not putting it necessarily in order of importance.
I think she finds the Commonwealth and her position as Head of the Commonwealth infinitely more interesting than being the Queen of England, because she has no significant role in the latter.
I assumed the leadership within the Commonwealth for the fight against apartheid. I was very much assisted by Brian Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada, [and] Rajiv Gandhi, when he became the Prime Minister of India. And there were trade sanctions.
I got to know him well as Vice President to Ronald Reagan. And George rang me up and said, “Oh, Bob,” he said, “I’m having trouble with Brian [Mulroney].” He said, “He’s got a big wheat trade with Iraq, and he doesn’t want to upset that.” I said, “You leave it with me.”
![Bob Hawke Quote - I believe [ Rajiv Gandhi] had a real sense that he would be assassinated.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/i-believe-rajiv-gandhi-had-a-real-sense-that-he-wo-683x1024.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - There is a reciprocal respect for [ Elizabeth II], for her interest in the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth recognise that here is a genuine interest from the top. So, that’s one reason. I’m not putting it necessarily in order of importance.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/there-is-a-reciprocal-respect-for-elizabeth-ii-for-683x1024.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - [John Howard] led the Government. They had the numbers, and just basically automatically went along with the Americans.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/john-howard-led-the-government-they-had-the-number.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - Brian Mulroney, myself, [and] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core [of the Commonwealth ]. That was the engine room, I reckon.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-tha-683x1024.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - George Bush Junior [George W Bush] was a religious fanatic, and Tony Blair wasn’t far behind in a way.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/george-bush-junior-george-w-bush-was-a-religious-f.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - I assumed the leadership within the Commonwealth for the fight against apartheid. I was very much assisted by Brian Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada, [and] Rajiv Gandhi, when he became the Prime Minister of India. And there were trade sanctions.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/i-assumed-the-leadership-within-the-commonwealth-f.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - I got to know him well as Vice President to Ronald Reagan. And George rang me up and said, “Oh, Bob,” he said, “I’m having trouble with Brian [Mulroney].” He said, “He’s got a big wheat trade with Iraq, and he doesn’t want to upset that.” I said, “You leave it with me.”](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/i-got-to-know-him-well-as-vice-president-to-ronald.jpg)