Undue optimism warning
Here’s what was happening as the Falklands tensions continued to simmer in May 1982.
Talks go on - and fighting, warning against optimism
Whitehall sources were today warning against undue optimism over the continued diplomatic activity at the United Nations aimed at resolving the Falkland Islands crisis without further bloodshed.
Both the British Ambassador there (Sir Anthony Parsons), and the United Nations Secretary-General (Javier Perez de Cuellar), have publicly reported progress in the negotiations. But there is plainly a long haul ahead.
Mr. Perez de Cuellar is performing his own ‘shuttle’ diplomacy between the two parties. Neither side has yet seen the other’s proposals.
What the Secretary General will do is to combine the two as best he can in the hope of producing a package acceptable to both parties. Britain has still not budged from her requirement that Argentina must withdraw her invading forces from the Falklands without prejudging any future arrangements for the Islands.
Meanwhile, Britain was today maintaining pressure, both economic and military, on Argentina.
The Prime Minister had another meeting with the War Cabinet to discuss these aspects of the crisis. Later today, she was having informal talks at Downing Street with Dr Henry Kissinger.
Meanwhile, Britain’s task force attacked an Argentine trawler suspected of being a spy ship yesterday, killing one of the crew and injuring 13 others. An Argentine helicopter was also shot down, and British warships bombarded military positions around the Falklands capital of Port Stanley. According to reports, one of the 25 people on board the Narwhal had been killed, one seriously hurt, and 12 suffered minor injuries.