Office of the Historian

440. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1

Washington, December 8, 1983, 0442Z

348036. Subject: Letter From the President to Prime Minister Thatcher on Argentine Certification.

1. (S)–Entire text.

2. Embassy should deliver the following letter from the President to Prime Minister Thatcher by 8:30 a.m., Thursday,2 London time.

3. Begin text:

December 7, 1983

Dear Margaret:

I sincerely appreciate your positive response3 to my decision to certify that Argentina has made significant improvements in human rights. We are sensitive to your concerns on this matter. As we indicated, certification does not mean arms sales and, in any case, any request will be evaluated carefully on a case-by-case basis. We will consult closely with you prior to any proposed major sale.

George Shultz will discuss this issue with Geoffrey Howe in Brussels this week. I agree with the approach you outlined in your letter for the public presentation of our certification decision. We will cooperate fully with your government on all public affairs aspects of the certification process.4

George Bush will inform President-elect Alfonsin of our mutual desire to see the Falklands issue resolved peacefully. The Vice President’s visit represents our hope that the inauguration of the Alfonsin Government will be a major step forward in the new political process [Page 902] in Argentina—one that will adhere to the democratic ideals we both hold so dear.

With warm wishes,

Sincerely,

Ron

End text.

4. Signed original will follow.

Dam
  1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Cable File, Presidential Messages OUT (06/03/1983–01/21/1984). Secret; Sensitive; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information Immediate as Tosec 150125 to Shultz, who was in Brussels December 7–9 for a NATO Ministerial meeting. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Stocker; cleared by Kelly, Kilday, and Montgomery and in EUR/NE and S/S–O; approved by Richard Kauzlarich (S/S). (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, N830012–0326)↩
  2. December 8.↩
  3. See Document 439.↩
  4. Romberg announced at the December 8 Department of State press briefing that certification would be effective December 10, the day of Alfonsín’s inauguration. He emphasized that resumption of arms sales would be reviewed and approved only if an Argentine request was consistent with U.S. support of a negotiated settlement of the Falklands/Malvinas and Beagle Channel conflicts. (“Reagan to End Ban on Sale of Arms to the Argentines.” New York Times, December 9, p. A1)↩