The Official History of the Falklands Campaign, Volume 2

War and Diplomacy

Lawrence Freedman

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2004
• Print ISBN: 9780714652078
• eBook ISBN: 9781135775827
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

In this official history of the Falklands Campaign, Lawrence Freedman provides a detailed and authoritative account of one of the most extraordinary periods in recent British political history and a vivid portrayal of a government at war.

After the shock of the Argentine invasion of the Falklands in April 1982, Margaret Thatcher faced the crisis that came to define her premiership as she determined to recover the islands. Freedman covers all aspects of the campaign - economic and diplomatic as well as military - and demonstrates the extent of the gamble that the government took. There are important accounts of the tensions in relations with the United States, concerns among the military commanders about the risks they were expected to take, the problems of dealing with the media and the attempts to reach a negotiated settlement. This definitive account describes in dramatic detail events such as the sinking of the Belgrano, the battle of Goose Green and the final push to Stanley. Special attention is also paid to the aftermath of the war, including the various enquiries, and the eventual restoration of diplomatic relations with Argentina.

APPENDICES

DRAFT AGREEMENTS

Original US draft tabled by Haig on 12 April

On the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution No 502 and recalling relevant United Nations General Assembly resolutions, Argentina and the United Kingdom have agreed on the following steps, which form an integrated whole:

• All military and security forces shall be withdrawn from the islands and agreed surrounding areas within a short period of time, but not later than two weeks from the date of this agreement.
• After the date of this agreement and pending a definitive settlement, no military or security forces shall be introduced into the islands or surrounding areas. All forces that have been deployed in connection with the current controversy shall be returned to their normal operating areas.
• The United Kingdom, Argentina and the United States shall each appoint a representative to constitute a Special Commission which shall provide observers to verify compliance with the obligations in the preceding paragraphs.
• On an interim basis, all decisions, laws and regulations adopted by the local administration on the islands shall be submitted to and expeditiously ratified by the Special Commission, except in the event that the Special Commission deems such decisions, laws or regulations to be inconsistent with the purposes of this agreement or its implementation. The traditional local administration shall continue, including the Executive and Legislative Councils, which would be enlarged to include representatives of the Argentine population resident on the islands. The Special Commission shall fly the flag of each of its constituent members at its headquarters.
• Henceforth travel, transportation, communications and all trade between the mainland and the islands shall be facilitated and promoted, and the Special Commission shall make specific recommendations.
• Within a short period of time, but not later than two weeks from the date of this agreement, steps shall be taken to terminate the economic and financial measures adopted in connection with the current controversy, including restrictions relating to travel, transportation, communications, and transfers of funds between the two countries. Likewise, the United Kingdom shall request third countries that have adopted similar measures to terminate them by that date.
• 31 December 1982, will conclude the interim period, and during this period the conditions of the definitive status of the islands shall be negotiated, consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations Charter.

Final Haig plan, 27 April 1982

1. 1. On the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 502, and the will of the Argentine Republic and that of the United Kingdom to resolve the controversy which has arisen between them, renouncing the use of force, both governments agree on the following steps, which form an integrated whole:

1. 2.1 Effective on the signature of this agreement by both governments, there shall be an immediate cessation of hostilities.
2. 2.2 Beginning at 0000 hours local time of the day after the day on which this agreement is signed and pending a definitive settlement, the Republic of Argentina and the United Kingdom shall not introduce nor deploy forces into the zones (hereinafter “zones”) defined by circles of 150 nautical miles radius of the following coordinate points (hereinafter “coordinate points”):
   1. a) LAT. 51 DEG 40′ S
      LONG. 59 DEG 30′ W
   2. b) LAT. 54 DEG 20′ S
      LONG. 36 DEG 40′ W
   3. c) LAT. 57 DEG 40′ S
      LONG 26 DEG 30′ W
3. 2.3 Within 24 hours of the date of this agreement the United Kingdom will suspend enforcement of its “zone of exclusion” and Argentina will suspend operations in the same area.
4. 2.4 Within 24 hours of the date of this agreement Argentina and the United Kingdom will commence the withdrawal of their forces in accordance with the following details.
5. 2.5 Within seven days from the date of this agreement, Argentina and the United Kingdom shall each have withdrawn one-half of their military and security forces present in the zones on the date of this agreement, including related equipment and armaments. Within the same time period, the United Kingdom Naval Task Force will stand off at a distance equivalent to 7 days’ sailing time (at 12 knots) from any of the co-ordinate points, and Argentine forces that have been withdrawn shall be placed in a condition such that they could not be reinserted with their equipment and armament in less than 7 days.
6. 2.6 Within 15 days from the date of the agreement, Argentina shall remove all of its remaining forces from the zones and redeploy them to their usual operating areas or normal duties. Within the same time period the United Kingdom shall likewise remove all of its remaining forces from the zones and shall redeploy such forces and the naval task force and submarines to their usual operating areas or normal duties.
7. 2.7 In accordance with its Letter of Acceptance of even date, the United States shall verify compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, and the two Governments agree to cooperate fully with the United States in facilitating this verification.
8. 3. From the date of this agreement, the two governments will initiate the necessary procedures to terminate simultaneously, and without delay, the economic and financial measures adopted in connection with the current controversy, including restrictions relating to travel, transportation, communications, and transfers of funds between the two countries. The United Kingdom at the same time shall request the European Community and third countries that have adopted similar measures to terminate them.
9. 4. The United Kingdom, and Argentina shall each appoint, and the United States has indicated its agreement to appoint, a representative to constitute a Special Interim Authority (hereinafter “the Authority”) which shall verify compliance with the obligations in this Agreement (with the exception of Paragraph 2), and undertake other responsibilities as are assigned to it under this Agreement or the separate Protocol regarding the Authority signed this date. Each representative may be support...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Illustrations
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Acknowledgements
• Section One
• Section Two
• Section Three
• Section Four
• Section Five
• Section Six
• Section Seven
• Section Eight
• Section Nine
• Section Ten
• Appendices