97. Telegram From Secretary of State Haig to the Department of State1
Secto 5066. For Judge Clark from the Secretary. Please pass to White House. Subject: Statements on Islands Crisis.
1. Secret–Entire text.
2. Bill: How distressing is to find on the eve of our arrival in London that the language provided the President for his radio speech from Barbados2 repeated a public line on the present crisis we know to be anathema to Mrs. Thatcher. The two-friends parallel used to describe our relations with Argentina and Great Britain will generate a strong reaction from the Prime Minister, you can be sure. It harks back to the even-handed posture which, you may recall, caused a furor early last week when used by DOD. Indeed, the statement will be read with even less favor in London as it calls only for negotiations—and does not mention withdrawals, which is the other half of the Security Council resolution. To reopen this old sore now will not help our prospects in London. Please, please ensure that any further statements do not deviate from our standing guidance.
3. Furthermore I am appalled by the fact of Jeane’s appearance on Face the Nation Sunday morning3 where she was interviewed at great length on the current crisis. I cannot over emphasize the sensitivity of the current phase of the mission and thus the importance of minimizing commentary over for the crucial days to come. Interviews such as Jeane’s run unacceptable risks of misstatement of errors of fact which could have profound effects on the outcome. That Jeane maneuvered through this mine field almost blind folded, without major incident is much to her credit—but misses the point.
Warm regards, Al.
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Cable File, Falkland File 04/12/1982 (1). Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Haig was then en route from Buenos Aires to London.↩
- In his April 10 radio address, broadcast from Bridgetown, Reagan stated: “Two of our friends, the United Kingdom and Argentina, confront each other in a complex disagreement which goes back many generations. Because they’re both our friends, I’ve offered our help in an effort to bring the two countries together. Secretary Haig has completed a visit to London and is now in Buenos Aires. We’ll do all we can to help bring a peaceful resolution of this matter.” (Public Papers: Reagan, 1982, Book I, pp. 450–451)↩
- April 11.↩