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

410. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State and the White House¹

New York, November 4, 1982, 1906Z

3236. For the Secretary, Eagleburger, and Newell; NSC for Judge Clark; from Ambassador Kirkpatrick. Subject: Revised Text of Explanation of Vote on Falklands. Ref: USUN 3233.²

1. C–Entire text.

Below is revised text of draft explanation of vote on the Falklands resolution for use after the vote in the UNGA plenary November 4.³

Mr. President,

The United States has always supported a negotiated settlement between the United Kingdom and Argentina in their tragic conflict over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). At the outset of the conflict, my government made sustained efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table. We said at that time the United States stands behind the principle that the use of force to settle disputes should not be allowed anywhere, and especially in this hemisphere where a significant number of territorial disputes remain to be solved diplomatically. For the United States, the Falkland crisis has been and still is a particularly agonizing, tragic event. As the whole world knows, we have a long-standing alliance and, beyond that, the closest relations of friendship with Great Britain, the country from which our political institutions, law and language derive. But we have not forgotten for a moment our close geographical, economic and political relations with our Latin neighbors. We do not only care about this hemisphere, we are part of this hemisphere, and we share many of the aspirations, goals and dreams of all nations of the Americas . . .

That is why the United States tried so hard to avoid the conflict on the Falklands, why we hoped so intensely to reduce and isolate it, and why we were eager and ready to back any realistic diplomatic initiative which would put a just end to it. The search for a negotiated settlement to this conflict led the United States to support Security Council Resolution 505 of May 26 which called for the simultaneous cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of forces, and negotiations. The essential elements of that resolution remain the framework of the search for peace. The same vital need for a negotiated solution that would put this conflict once and for all behind us underlies our vote today.

This resolution, in its revised and final form, expressly reaffirms the principles of the UN Charter concerning non-use of force in international relations. We welcome its references to cessation of hostilities and to the intention of the parties not to renew them. The cost, in blood and treasure, to both Argentina and the United Kingdom dictates that force must never again be used to attempt to solve this dispute. We assume, therefore, in supporting this resolution a shared responsibility for preventing the use of force in the future. The United States would not have voted for any resolution which prejudged the question of sovereignty or the outcome of negotiations. We have never taken a position on the question of sovereignty and we do not now do so. We conclude, however, that the resolution before us does not legally prejudice the position of either Argentina or the United Kingdom and, in fact, opens the way toward negotiations in good faith without any preordained result.

Finally, in calling on the parties to negotiate, let us not forget, Mr. President, that these Islands are and have been for generations the home of a small, but resolute, population of Island people. The United States assumes that negotiations undertaken by the United Kingdom and Argentina will necessarily take into account both the interests and the views of the Falkland Islanders. In supporting this resolution, the U.S. affirms that this dispute like all others should be settled by discussion and never by force and that the fate of peoples should never be settled without due account being taken of their views, values and interests. Let these principles and those of the UN Charter itself governing peaceful resolution of disputes serve as a basis for negotiation to close this unhappy chapter and move forward again toward peace, understanding and development in this hemisphere.

End text.

Kirkpatrick

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820571–0494. Confidential; Flash; Exdis.
2. Telegram 3233 from USUN, November 4, transmitted an earlier draft of the explanation of the U.S. vote on the Falklands/Malvinas resolution. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D820571–0220) The statement, as delivered by Adelman before the UNGA, November 4, is printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1982, p. 1363.
3. The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 37/9 by a vote of 90 (including the United States) to 12 (including the United Kingdom), with 52 abstentions. The text of the resolution is printed in Yearbook of the United Nations, 1982, p. 1347. For a summary of the debate in the General Assembly, see ibid., pp. 1341–1346.