Yes Minister (TV Series)

The Official Visit (1980)

Tenniel Evans: Martin, Foreign Secretary

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Discussing response to an inflammatory speech by a foreign diplomat] 

  James Hacker : Humphrey, do you think it's a good idea to issue a statement?

  Sir Humphrey Appleby : Well, Minister, in practical terms we have the usual six options. One, do nothing. Two, issue a statement deploring the speech. Three, lodge an official protest. Four, cut off aid. Five, break off diplomatic relations; and six, declare war.

  James Hacker : Which should we do?

  Sir Humphrey Appleby : Well, if we do nothing we implicitly agree with the speech. Two: if we issue a statement we'll just look foolish. Three: if we lodge a protest it will be ignored. Four: we can't cut off aid because we don't give them any. Five: if we break off diplomatic relations we can't negotiate the oil rig contracts. And six: if we declare war it might just look as though we were over-reacting.

  Martin - Foreign Secretary : In the old days we'd have sent in a gunboat.

  Sir Humphrey Appleby : Yes.

  James Hacker : I suppose that is absolutely out of the question.