Prelude to the Conflict, May 1979–April 1, 1982


1. Airgram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, Falkland Files of Luigi Einaudi, Lot 90D400, Falklands Crisis History. Confidential. Drafted by Yvonne Thayer (POL); cleared by Chaplin; approved by Hallman. Sent for information to London, Montevideo, Santiago, and USCINCSO.


2. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Argentina

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D800225–0913. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Sent for information Priority to London. Drafted by J.D. Blacken (ARA/CEN); cleared in S/S–O and in draft by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs John A. Bushnell, W.R. Warne (ARA/CAR), and M. Michaud (EUR/NE); and approved by Bowdler.


3. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810100–0377. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to Buenos Aires. Drafted by Funseth; cleared by Eagleburger and Bremer; and approved by Goldberg.


4. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810117–1025. Confidential. Sent for information to Buenos Aires.


5. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810152–0335. Confidential. Sent for information to London.


6. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810356–0871. Confidential. Sent for information to London, Montevideo, Rome, Santiago, and Warsaw.


7. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810469–0965. Confidential. Sent for information to London and USCINCSO.


8. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810588–0688. Confidential. Sent for information to Buenos Aires, Brasilia, and Bern.


9. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Bureau of European Affairs, United Kingdom Political Files, Lot 89D489, POL–15(h) Country Political 82—Latin America. Confidential. Drafted by Keane on January 28; cleared by King.


11. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820117–0752. Confidential. Sent for information to London, Montevideo, Rome, and Santiago.


13. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820135–0667. Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information Immediate to Buenos Aires. Drafted by O’Connell; cleared by Enders, Service, and K. Smith; and approved by Haig.


14. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820146–0021. Confidential. Sent for information to Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, and USUN.


15. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820154–0489. Confidential; Priority. Sent for information to London and USUN.


16. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820157–0409. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Sent for information to London, USUN, Montevideo, and Santiago.


17. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820159–0368. Secret; Immediate. Sent for information to Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Montevideo.


18. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820160–0043. Secret; Niact Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to London.


19. Article In the National Intelligence Daily Prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 84B00049R, Subject Files (1981–1982) Box 7, NSPG Meeting re: [text not declassified]/Falklands Islands Dispute 5 Apr 82. Top Secret; Codeword. The National Intelligence Daily was a serial publication by the CIA. This article was attached to an April 5 covering note from [name not declassified] to Inman [text not declassified].


20. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820162–0574. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to London.


21. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820163–0916. Limited Official Use; Niact Immediate. Sent for information Immediate to USUN and London and for information to Santiago and Montevideo.


22. Message From British Foreign Secretary Carrington to Secretary of State Haig

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, P820054–0571. Confidential. Printed from an unsigned copy. Sent to Haig under a March 28 cover letter from Henderson. According to Haig’s memoirs, Henderson personally delivered the message the same day. (Haig, Caveat, p. 261) The Department transmitted the text of the message to the Embassy in Buenos Aires in telegram 83326, March 29. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820165–1097)


23. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820165–0179. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to London and for information to Montevideo, Santiago, and USUN.


24. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Enders) and the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Scanlan) to the Deputy Secretary of State (Stoessel)

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, P820057–0766. Confidential. Tom Niles (EUR) initialed the memorandum on behalf of Scanlan. A stamped notation in the upper right-hand corner of the first page states that Stoessel saw the memorandum on March 30. Attached but not printed are a copy of telegram 1768 from Buenos Aires (see Document 23), biographical information about Henderson and Takacs, and agendas for the March 29 meetings with the two Ambassadors. For a record of the two meetings, see Document 25.


25. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Argentina and the United Kingdom

Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820166–0400. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to Montevideo, Santiago, and USUN. Drafted by O’Connell; cleared by Service, Smith, Bosworth, Bremer, and Stern; and approved by Stoessel.


26. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to Multiple Recipients

Source: Department of State, Bureau of European Affairs, United Kingdom Political Files, Lot 89D489, POL–15(h) Country Political 82—Latin America. Secret; Noforn; Nocontract; Wnintel. Sent to the National Security Agency, Department of State, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of the Treasury, White House Situation Room, National Security Council Staff, CIA Office of Current Operations, and USCINCSO.


27. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Cable File, Falkland File 03/31/1982–04/01/1982. Secret; Sensitive; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to Buenos Aires.


28. Message From British Prime Minister Thatcher to President Reagan

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Cable File, Falkland File 03/31/1982–04/01/1982. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent personal from Thatcher via Cabinet Office channels. Telegram 7232 from London, April 1, reported that FCO Assistant Undersecretary for the Americas Ure informed the Embassy that Thatcher, during a late evening meeting on March 31, had decided to send the message to Reagan. (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Europe and Soviet Union, United Kingdom (04/01/1982–07/31/1982) (4)) In telegram 86943 to London, April 1, the Department re-transmitted the text of Thatcher’s message. (Ibid.)


29. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Latin America/Central, Argentina (01/01/1982–04/02/1982). Secret; Niact Immediate; Exdis. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room.


30. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Cable File, Falkland File 03/31/1982–04/01/1982. Secret; Sensitive; Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information Immediate to Buenos Aires.