‘Hours away’ to conflict
HERE’S what was leading The News on April 30, 1982 as tensions in the Falklands continued to rise.
Armed conflict looms closer, Argentina declares war zone
Britain and Argentina were edging closer to armed conflict over the Falkland Islands today.
The Argentinian decision to establish its own 200 mile ‘no-go’ zone around the Falklands, as well as South Georgia, the Sandwich Islands and the Argentine mainland, means that bloody conflict could only be hours away.
The three-man junta said that any British ship or plane found within the zone would be regarded as hostile and ‘treated accordingly’.
And Britain has made it plain that its own 200-mile total exclusion zone around the Falklands is not a bluff.
The announcement of the so-called ‘war zone’ came from the Argentine junta only hours before Britain’s total exclusion zone is due to come into effect today.
The junta also informed America that its latest proposals for settling the crisis were ‘unsatisfactory’ and required further clarification.
Britain regards this as a blatant spinning out by Argentina of negotiations to gain time to strengthen its own military forces on the Falklands.
The Argentinian military zone is to operate ‘as of today’ - apparently meaning immediately.
Meanwhile, President Reagan or his White House representatives could make a statement today backing Britain over the Falklands crisis, Senate sources said.
Last night the Senate sidestepped a resolution of outright support for Britain but, by a 79-1 vote, called for the withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falklands.