The Falklands War: Whose Side Was Reagan On?

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

On the 10th of April 1982 I found myself turning on the radio every few hours at my home (which also served as my English conversation school) in Yokohama, Japan. You see, the resolve Margaret Thatcher was expressing in regards to liberating the Falkland Islands from the Argentine invaders moved me. I felt great sympathy for the people of the Falkland Islands and hoped against hope that their homeland would be liberated... It did my heart good to learn that the European Economic Community (ECC) countries had agreed to halt imports from Argentina and to support a United Nations motion calling for the withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falkland Islands. One major European country, noted for its grabbing of territory from other countries "when the situation is right", sent out a message that Britain should not have sent a Task Force to the Falklands. Such hypocrisy! It very well could be that kept under wraps -- so as not to rile the Argentine generals -- was the fact that President Reagan's administration in Washington were "really" on the side of the British. Reagan rightfully supposed that siding with the British in the wake of the Argentine invasion would have damaged America's relations with various countries in Latin America.

In a 12-page memo of a conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig and Margaret

Thatcher on April 8, Thatcher expressed her indignation over the Argentine attack even as the U.K and

Argentina were in the midst of "good talks" regarding possibilities about what could be done to resolve

the Falklands impasse.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that the Germans had told her that "unprovoked aggression if not

turned back could lead to problems everywhere there are border disputes. Unless we stop the Argentines from succeeding we are all vulnerable.".

Thatcher also said that she could not assume a neutral stance in the "face of unprovoked aggression." She tempered that statement by explaining that, even though the Task Force was on its way to the Falklands,there was still time for a diplomatic solution.

Having heard that her friend U.S. President Ronald Reagan was trying to avoid "taking sides" in the dispute between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falklands, Thatcher made light of what President Reagan had said, referring to it as "off the cuff and not a carefully conceived remark". She was quick to add words of appreciation to the U.S. for providing Great Britain with intelligence information about Argentine military movements and for allowing the British Task Force to use of the U.S. facilities on Ascension Island (located roughly halfway between the British isles and the Falkland Islands).

Just exactly to what degree Thatcher and Reagan were in accord will perhaps never be known! But it is clear that even a tiny measure of succor would have been helpful for the cause on which Thatcher had staked her political future!

Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.