Command:MO - Falklands
Manufacturer: Slitherine Ltd.
Forty years ago this year, the United Kingdom and Argentina went to war over the possession of the Falkland Islands, off the coast of South America.
The islands had been contested for decades prior to the conflict. In 1965 the United Nations called upon Argentina and the UK to reach a settlement of the sovereignty dispute. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regarded the islands as a nuisance and barrier to UK trade in South America. Therefore, while confident of British sovereignty, the FCO was prepared to cede the islands to Argentina. The FCO also sought to make the islands dependent on Argentina, hoping this would make the islanders more amenable to Argentine sovereignty.
In 1977, British prime minister James Callaghan, in response to heightened tensions in the region, secretly sent a force of two frigates and the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Dreadnought to the South Atlantic, codenamed Operation Journeyman.
In 1980, the new UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nicholas Ridley, went to the Falklands trying to sell the islanders the benefits of a "leaseback" scheme, which met with strong opposition from the islanders. On returning to London in December 1980, he reported to parliament but was viciously attacked at what was seen as a sellout. At a private committee meeting that evening, it was reported that Ridley said: "If we don't do something, they will invade. And there is nothing we could do."
Meanwhile Argentina was going through
The islands had been contested for decades prior to the conflict. In 1965 the United Nations called upon Argentina and the UK to reach a settlement of the sovereignty dispute. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regarded the islands as a nuisance and barrier to UK trade in South America. Therefore, while confident of British sovereignty, the FCO was prepared to cede the islands to Argentina. The FCO also sought to make the islands dependent on Argentina, hoping this would make the islanders more amenable to Argentine sovereignty.
In 1977, British prime minister James Callaghan, in response to heightened tensions in the region, secretly sent a force of two frigates and the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Dreadnought to the South Atlantic, codenamed Operation Journeyman.
In 1980, the new UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nicholas Ridley, went to the Falklands trying to sell the islanders the benefits of a "leaseback" scheme, which met with strong opposition from the islanders. On returning to London in December 1980, he reported to parliament but was viciously attacked at what was seen as a sellout. At a private committee meeting that evening, it was reported that Ridley said: "If we don't do something, they will invade. And there is nothing we could do."
Meanwhile Argentina was going through
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