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

221. Message From President Reagan to British Prime Minister Thatcher¹

Washington, May 5, 1982, 0204Z

Dear Margaret:

The decisions I made last Friday² were aimed at putting you in the strongest possible position to achieve a peaceful settlement in line with the basic principles and values to which we are both committed. I believe there is now a chance to realize that aim, and that we must seize it before more lives are lost.

Al Haig has sent to Francis Pym new formulations which might provide a basis for a peaceful settlement if recent military developments have instilled a greater sense of realism in Buenos Aires.³ I am sure that the ideas sent to Al by your Foreign Secretary would not provide such a basis.⁴ Equally important, you will see that our suggestions are faithful to the basic principles we must protect.

I urge you to agree to have these ideas proposed by US and Peru as soon as possible, recognizing that it will be difficult to get Peruvian agreement to join us in this initiative and more difficult still to gain Argentine acceptance. This, I am convinced, is now our best hope.

Sincerely,

Ron

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Latin America/Central, Falklands War (04/22/1982–05/17/1982). Secret. Sent in telegram WH02767 from the White House to the Cabinet Office via Cabinet Office channels. A stamped notation at the top of the telegram indicates that Clark saw it. A handwritten notation in an unknown hand reads: “Sent out at midnight.”
2. April 30. See Documents 195 and 196.
3. See Document 222.
4. See Document 220. An unknown hand circled the word “not.”