Phil Goff, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the UK, made headlines during a speech at the Chatham House think tank recently when he drew a parallel between former US President Donald Trump’s attempts to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine with the 1938 Munich Agreement. This agreement, established by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and leaders from France and Germany, allowed Adolf Hitler to annex portions of Czechoslovakia, which ultimately led to the invasion of Poland and the onset of World War II.
In his address, Goff referenced a notable quote from Winston Churchill, who remarked on the agreement: “You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war.” He asked rhetorically whether Trump, who had reinstated a bust of Churchill in the Oval Office, truly comprehended the historical implications of such agreements.
Subsequent to his comments, Goff was dismissed by New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, who emphasised that had Goff made similar remarks about other countries, he would have faced the same fate. Peters expressed regret over the decision, acknowledging the difficulty of such an action, especially considering his long-standing professional relationship with Goff. He underscored that individuals in Goff’s position must represent the governmental stance and policies of New Zealand without deviating into personal interpretation.
Goff’s sacking did not go unchallenged; former Prime Minister Helen Clark voiced her discontent on social media, suggesting that the dismissal seemed to be a flimsy justification for removing a respected political figure from his high-profile role. Clark pointed out that many attendees at a recent Munich Security Conference drew similar parallels between historical events and contemporary US foreign policy actions.
This incident has sparked discussions regarding the boundaries of diplomatic speech and the expectations placed upon those in significant governmental roles, alongside the larger implications of historical lessons in current geopolitical contexts.