172. Action Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Bosworth) to Secretary of State Haig1
SUBJECT
- Falklands Dispute: US Strategy for the Monday, April 26, Foreign Ministers Meeting
Our options are (1) to seek actively to block any resolution or (2) to stand back. The chances of blocking a resolution which is at least to some extent prejudicial to the UK are near zero. The only exception: if Argentine demands are disproportionate to situation that exists on Monday (e.g., no hostilities and GOA demands sanctions). In that case, we could probably get a blocking eight and should work for it.
Otherwise, assuming the diplomatic effort is still alive, we should work behind the scenes to try to temper any resolution as much as possible, while not inviting any expectation that we would vote for it unless it [Page 386] were completely balanced and non-prejudicial. We would take the same public line we have taken previously, i.e., that we believe Rio Treaty framework is inappropriate and, in any case, no action should be taken which would complicate or prejudice on-going efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution within the framework of UNSC Res. 502.
If our current strategy has progressed to the point at which the GOA has rejected a “US proposal” and seeks Rio Treaty sanctions, we should be prepared to go public with our conclusions:
—that the proposal was fair and balanced (discussing the key points of substance);
—that we support decolonialization but not recolonialization;
—that a diplomatic solution remains urgent; and
—since sanctions are legally invalid, we oppose the Argentine resolution.
RECOMMENDATION:
That you approve the approach outlined above.2