Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XIII, Conflict in the South Atlantic, 1981–1984

132. Telegram From the White House to the Embassy in Argentina¹

Washington, April 16, 1982, 1343Z

WH2039. Please deliver to Ambassador Shlaudeman for Secretary Haig. The following message was received this morning from Mrs. Thatcher.

Dear Ron,

Thank you for your message of 15 April about your conversation with General Galtieri.²

I am sure that neither you nor Al Haig, following his most helpful visits here, are in any doubt that it is the strong wish of the British Government, Parliament and people to avoid conflict. We have done our utmost to put Al Haig in a position where he has reasonable proposals to offer the Argentine Government.

I regret that we have seen no corresponding flexibility on the part of the Argentines. I note that General Galtieri has reaffirmed to you his desire to avoid conflict. But it seems to me—and I must state this frankly to you as a friend and ally—that he fails to draw the obvious conclusion. It was not Britain who broke the peace but Argentina. The mandatory resolution of the Security Council, to which you and we have subscribed, requires Argentina to withdraw its troops from the Falkland Islands. That is the essential first step which must be taken to avoid conflict. When it has been taken, discussions about the future of the Islands can profitably take place. Any suggestion that conflict can be avoided by a device that leaves the aggressor in occupation is surely gravely misplaced.³ The implications for other potential areas of tension and for small countries everywhere would be of extreme seriousness. The fundamental principles for which the free world stands would be shattered.

May I ask you to convey my strong feelings on this point urgently to Al Haig in Buenos Aires.

We remain ready at any time to continue discussions with yourself and Haig. Our earnest aim is to avoid conflict. But it is essential that America, our closest friend and ally, should share with us a common perception of the fundamental issues of democracy and freedom which are at stake, as I am sure you do.

Warmest good wishes

Margaret

1. Source: Department of State, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Miscellaneous Files, March 1981–February 1983, Lot 83D210, Falklands [Folder 1]. Secret. Sent via privacy channels. On another copy of the telegram, Goldberg wrote that Haig received the telegram at 2 p.m., April 16. It was delivered to him during a meeting with Costa Mendez at the Foreign Ministry. (Department of State, Executive Secretariat, Files of Alexander M. Haig, Jr., 1981–1982, Lot 82D370, (1) Falkland Crisis—1982)
2. See Document 129.
3. An unknown hand underlined the portion of the sentence beginning with “by” and ending with “occupation,” placed a vertical line in the right-hand margin next to the sentence, and added the following annotation: “Mr. Secretary: You might recall the PM’s own words. 2 Arg [entries?] hardly represents ‘occupation.’”