78. Message From British Foreign Secretary Pym to Secretary of State Haig1

Begins:

Dear Al,

I wanted you to know that John Nott, in his winding up speech in today’s debate on the Falklands in the House of Commons, will announce the establishment of a Maritime Exclusion Zone around the Falkland Islands from 0400 on Monday 12 April.

I am asking Nicko Henderson to pass you the text of this announcement with this message,2 and I look forward to explaining the background to you when we meet tomorrow.

Yours ever,

Francis3

Ends.

  1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, Files of Alexander M. Haig, Jr., 1981–1982, Lot 82D370, (3) Falklands Crisis—1982. Confidential. Henderson sent the message to Haig under an April 7 covering note. A notation on the covering note, in an unknown hand, states that the message was received in S at 4:30 p.m., April 7.
  2. The text of Nott’s statement to the House of Commons is attached but not printed.
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.