Press Releases

EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY THE RT HON LORD OWEN DELIVERING THE TACITUS LECTURE IN GUILDHALL, TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2002It is a very grave challenge to British diplomacy when the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, can tell Congress about a “regime change” in Iraq which they “might have to do alone”. For Britain, whose Prime Minister said to the US people that we were first in and would be last out in their fight against international terrorism, the consequences of stepping aside would be devastating to our international credibility. We would look like a beached whale, pretentious and overblown. Unlike our differences over Vietnam, where opinion was deeply divided within the US, over Iraq, America is remarkably united. The military risks are obvious to them but the political gains are clear cut. America is ready to take casualties in what they rightly believe is preventive action, which once done will be widely supported by public opinion in all the countries in the Middle East.
There is a logical sequence of events that needs to be understood for countering international terrorism. There will not be stability in the Middle East until the US puts considerable pressure on both sides for a permanent Palestinian/Israeli settlement. The US cannot put such pressure on Israel while they legitimately fear Iraqi missile attacks and Iranian destabilisation through sponsored terror and the transfer of weapons. The Iranian people will not choose the moderate Khatami reforming wing and defeat the Khameni clerical reaction until they see the US enforce a regime change in Iraq.
It is hard to exaggerate the consequences for the UK if we were to step out of our geo-strategic alliance with the US and fail to participate in military action if the UN weapons inspectors are not granted the unfettered right to conduct searches throughout Iraq. The inspectors on this occasion, as is specifically stated in past UN Resolutions, have to have the power to track down and remove suspected weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, biological and chemical. Iraq has used gas against their own people and Iranian troops. They have put biological weapons on their warheads, though fortunately they were not on the missiles that Iraq fired against Tel Aviv during the Gulf war.END
Note to Editors
The World Traders Tacitus Lecture is now believed to be the largest event of its type in the City of London attended by the Lord Mayor and over 800 members of the Worshipful Company of World Traders. The full text of Lord Owen’s lecture will be available on the Worshipful Company’s website www.world-traders.org later in the week. Further information from The Clerk, Nigel Pullman, tel: 020 7792 3410 or Maggie Smart, Private Secretary to Lord Owen, tel: 01442 872617.

16.3.00
100 new World Traders' liverymen clothed.
At a ceremony held at Leathersellers' Hall in the City of London on 16th March 2000, 100 Freemen of The Worshipful Company of World Traders were formally clothed with the livery of this, the first newly created livery company of the new Millennium. In a symbolic ceremony, the Master, Alderman Sir Roger Cork, placed a new livery gown upon the shoulders of each freemen, thus indicating their privileges and rights upon becoming liverymen of the Company. To qualify to become liverymen, each World Trader had earlier received the freedom of the Company, paid their livery fine, and been admitted to the freedom of the City of London. The Master explained to each new liveryman that he would in due course become eligible to vote for the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs in annual elections at Common Hall. In the medieval times when the Guilds flourished in their original role, it was only those who were admitted to the livery who were entitled to practise their trade or craft within the City. Nowadays the modern livery companies concern themselves with charitable good causes and education, while also promoting and fostering their chosen trade, and encouraging good fellowship amongst their members. Hence the Company motto, "Commerce and honest friendship with all". pictures of the event

25.1.00
Worshipful Company of World Traders granted Letters Patent as 101st Livery Company
The Worshipful Company of World Traders was today granted their Letters Patent by the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor in a ceremony at Mansion House in the City of London. This historic ceremony in the Court of Aldermen confirms that the World Traders have become the first new livery company of the new millennium. They are now number 101 in the order of precedence. The Company had its Petition to become a Livery Company of the City of London accepted last November by the Court of Aldermen, and it took effect on 1st January 2000.

A full press release follows:

New livery company keeps City traditions alive in the 21st Century The ancient City tradition of Livery Companies is alive and well as witnessed by the announcement that the Company of World Traders has been granted Livery status. The Worshipful Company of World Traders will be the first in the 21st Century and is the 101st Company to have been formed, since Livery Companies began in the middle ages. The Company will receive its letter patent at a ceremony in the Mansion House on 25th January. and has a newly elected Master, Alderman Sir Roger Cork, to lead them into the 21st Century . Sir Roger has a wealth of business experience and has been involved with the City for many years asnd was Lord Mayor of London in 1996 - 97. As its name suggests the Company is concerned with world trade and its 150 members come from a wide range of sectors and professions, who enjoy a wide range of social and networking opportunities. The Company is a very active in charity work and during 1999 gave a five figure sum for good causes. The Company will be celebrating its new Livery status at a special Medieval banquet to be held in June at Queen's House in Greenwich, just a stone's throw from the site of the Millennium exhibition.