Office of the Historian

47. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to President Reagan1

Washington, undated

SUBJECT

  • Issues Luncheon2

Falkland Islands

The Argentine occupation of the Falkland Islands is a genuine crisis. The conflict involves two powers friendly to the U.S.—one of them a key NATO partner who remembers an American betrayal under very vaguely similar circumstances—Suez, 1956. The problem for the U.S. is to maintain its commitment to the U.K. special relationship; not alienate the Argentines; and find a peaceful way for all concerned out of this mess. Only the U.S. possesses the energy, wit, resources, and motivation to do so.

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Latin America/Central, Argentina (01/01/1982–04/02/1982). Confidential.↩
  2. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Reagan held a luncheon meeting with Senator Laxalt at the White House swimming pool from 12:18 to 1:18 p.m., April 2. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary) No record of the conversation has been found.↩