438. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1
344532. Subject: Assistant Secretary Burt’s Meeting With British on Argentine Certification, December 3, 1983 at 11:45 am. Corrected copy (text: paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, and renumbered 7 and 8).
1. (Secret–Entire text)
2. Summary: EUR Assistant Secretary Burt called in U.K. Charge Robin Renwick to give him a copy of the President’s letter to the Prime Minister on Argentine certification2 and to brief him on the decision. Renwick gave Mr. Burt a copy of a letter on Argentina from the Foreign Secretary to Secretary Shultz. HMG attaches fundamental importance, he stressed, to the review of all requests by Under Secretary Eagleburger and to consultation with the British prior to sales. Britain is deeply concerned about possible sales to the GOA of spare parts especially for submarines and Skyhawks. He asked if the announcement of certification could be delayed until December 8 given the timing of the Prime Minister’s weekly parliamentary question period and the Foreign [Page 897] Secretary’s dinner with the Secretary. Mr. Burt agreed to look into the request. End summary.
3. Assistant Secretary Burt called in UK Charge Robin Renwick to give him a copy of the President’s letter and to brief him on the decision drawing on talking points transmitted to London septel.3 Renwick responded that HMG attaches fundamental importance to the review of all requests by Under Secretary Eagleburger and to consultations with British prior to sales. He also expressed Britain’s deep concern about possible sales of spare parts (particularly for the U.S. submarines owned by the GOA Navy) and of Skyhawks. Such sales, he stressed, affect the resources that HMG has to devote to defending the Island. Even more importantly they may endanger the lives of British troops. He explained that HMG was already working on replies to parliamentary questions on the topic of Argentine certification. Handing over a copy of letter on Argentina from Foreign Secretary Howe to Secretary Shultz (text follows), Renwick pointed out that the letter states HMG’s plan to draw on Secretary Weinberger’s public comments about the administration’s exercising caution over major new supplies to the GOA especially those which could be used in a renewed attempt to invade the Falklands. They realize that they cannot publicly refer to the consultations which will take place.
4. He then remarked that December 8 would be a much better day from HMG’s point of view for the announcement of certification. As the Prime Minister’s regular time to answer questions in the Parliament is on Thursdays, it would be preferable not to have the announcement made the day before. Secondly, the Foreign Minister will be seeing the Secretary at the Berlin dinner on Wednesday evening and it would be much better for Sir Geoffrey if he could say he had spoken personally to the Secretary prior to the announcement.
5. Deputy Assistant Secretary Kelly said that part of the reason that December 7 had been chosen was to fit in with the Vice President’s scheduled travel to Argentina. Assistant Secretary Burt said he would see if anything could be done to meet HMG’s request. Renwick asked that a definite answer be given to Ambassador Wright when he calls on the Deputy Secretary on Monday, December 5.
6. Mr. Kelly assured Mr. Renwick that if asked, the US spokesman would state that certification is not a guarantee of sales.
[Page 898]7. Text of message dated December 2 from Sir Geoffrey Howe, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to Secretary Shultz.
Begin text:
Margaret Thatcher and I discussed the whole question of the probable resumption of US arms sales to Argentina with Ken Dam at Chequers early in November,4 and Janet Young has since been over the ground with both Ken Dam and Larry Eagleburger.
I do not therefore need to labour our serious concern about the possible implications of US arms sales for our defences in the Falklands particularly while the Argentines continue to refuse to declare a cessation of hostilities. I wanted to let you have this message now to underline the importance we attach to this issue in advance of the installation of the new Argentine President.
We were very pleased to note Cap Weinberger’s public assurance that the administration would exercise caution over major new supplies, especially of weapons that could be used in a renewed attempt to invade the Falklands. We also welcome Larry Eagleburger’s undertaking to Janet Young personally to veto all export licenses. Michael Heseltine will I know want to discuss this subject with Cap Weinberger in Washington next week, and I would like to have a word with you in the margins of the NATO Ministerial in Brussels.
As regards our policy towards the new government in Argentina, I should like to emphasize that our aim is to re-establish more normal relations between our two countries. The previous Argentine Government failed to respond positively to our various proposals: I hope the new government will be more constructive. Margaret Thatcher has declared publicly her willingness to resume full commercial and diplomatic relations with Argentina. I understand that George Bush will be representing the USA at Dr. Alfonsin’s inauguration. I believe it would be very useful if he could take the opportunity to emphasize that the normalization of relations between Britain and Argentina is the most realistic point from which to start building. End text
8. Following is the text of an answer given in Parliament on 22nd November by the Leader of the House of Commons (in the Prime Minister’s absence) to a parliamentary question by Mr. Michael Latham MP. It is asked what representations the Prime Minister had made to President Reagan about the possible resumption of American arms sales to Argentina in advance of a formal agreement to end hostilities by the Argentine administration.
[Page 899]Begin text:
I have been asked to reply. As the House knows, my Right Honourable friend made our position very clear to the President when she saw him in September.5 The United States administration is very well aware of our concern. We have been glad to note the remarks by the United States Defense Secretary that the United States would exercise caution about the resumption of major new supplies. End text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D830714–0935. Secret; Immediate. Sent for information Immediate to Buenos Aires. Drafted by C.K. Stocker (EUR/NE); cleared by Kelly, B. McKie (S/S) and in S/S–O; approved by Burt. Printed from a copy correcting an earlier summary of the meeting between Burt and Renwick sent in telegram 344570 to London, December 4. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D830713–0006)↩
- See Tab B, Document 437.↩
- In telegram 344288 to London, December 3, the Department sent instructions to the Embassy, including the referenced talking points and the text of Reagan’s December 2 letter to Thatcher, to inform the British Government of the President’s decision to certify Argentina. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D830712–0661)↩
- See Document 433.↩
- See Document 431.↩