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

147. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Buenos Aires, April 18, 1982, 2:15 a.m.

SUBJECT

• Secretary’s discussion of Argentine draft reply: 18 April 1982, 2:15 a.m. Secretary’s Suite, Buenos Aires, Argentina

ATTENDEES

• Enders, Gompert, Gudgeon, Wayne, Schuette, Adams

(note: notetaker arrived in middle of discussions and was not in a position to hear all the detailed discussions)

The Secretary characterized the Argentine draft² as “a very positive step” noting that it reflected the new attitude that he had found prevalent in the discussions that afternoon.

The discussion centered around paras 6 and 8, and the Secretary said that if we were able to make some headway on these two paras he would personally take the draft to the British. If we were not successful he would cable the draft to London and return to Washington. The Secretary noted several times that “we are getting there fellas, and we’re too close to lose it.”

Enders voiced skepticism on the likelihood of gaining the necessary concessions on paras 6 and 8 but the Secretary held to his positive assessment noting that the will was evident now, and the next step was just a question of words.

Adams asked about the strength of the GOA commitment to the draft—ie. had it been blessed by the junta? The Secretary felt certain that the junta had agreed to this proposal but others at the discussion were less certain. The Secretary said that for the first time in this effort things now looked doable.

The Secretary closed by saying that he would call Costa Mendez at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday and suggest an early afternoon meeting—another round of negotiations.³ He wanted the early afternoon because he wanted to be certain that the Argentines were fresh after having labored over this response all night. He said that he would tell Costa Mendez that their draft represented a major effort, but that it was still unacceptable to London, and thus it would be a tragedy to send this draft to the British and have them turn it down—the GOA effort would be wasted.

1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, Files of Alexander M. Haig, Jr., 1981–1982, Lot 82D370, (1) Falklands Crisis—1982. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in Haig’s suite. No drafting information appears on the memorandum.
2. The text of this revision of the Argentine draft was transmitted to the Department in telegram Secto 6038, April 18. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, N820003–0665)
3. No memorandum of conversation of Haig’s telephone call to Costa Méndez on the morning of April 18 has been found. Haig informed Pym both of the receipt of the revised Argentine text and of his scheduled 2 p.m. meeting at the Casa Rosada to discuss the proposals at 1439Z, April 18. Describing the new Argentine text, Haig wrote: “Although their revisions are still unsatisfactory, I believe we now have—for the first time since we began this mission—some movement toward a workable solution for you and Argentines.” (Telegram Secto 6037 to London, April 18; Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Latin America/Central, Argentina (04/18/1982–04/19/1982))