Tag Archives: Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher on the Falklands War: Diplomatic Solutions


[This is synopsis of Thatcher’s The Downing Street Years Biography]

On the Falklands War: Diplomatic Solution

According to Thatcher, 140 years after British rule began; Argentina committed an internationally ‘abhorrent’ invasion of the Falkland Islands on April 2nd, 1982. This act of aggression by Argentinean President Galtriates was committed by his military regime who aspired to reignite Argentinean nationalism during a continued era of instability in that country. Argentina had made and continues to make the claim that the Falkland Islands are theirs because of a French treaty in the 18th century. The Falkland Islands are sparsely inhabitant by Scottish immigrants. Its town council at Fort Stanley was purely British making Argentinean immigration difficult without full British citizenship. Its strategic geopolitical position made it an asset to the British being near Cape Horn (in the event of a closing of the Panama Canal). Thatcher felt that its British rule was crucial to national pride and respect of the principle of international law. The two-month long undeclared war between Britain and Argentina marked a turning point in Thatcher’s electoral prospects in the subsequent 1983 campaign.

Thatcher was resolute early with the contention that self-determination of the Falkland Islands was the salient issue at hand. She needed to get the islands back with whatever methods necessary. Thatcher was jingoistic and patriotic believing that it was failure if ‘a common or garden dictator should rule over the Queen’s subjects and prevail by fraud and violence!’ Thatcher fought for a diplomatic solution during the first few weeks of the crisis. The Americans had good relations with both Britain and Argentina. Thatcher hoped that Galtieri would listen to American intervention. Galtieri took Reagan’s call conveniently after the invasion was underway. Thatcher is sceptical of the UN but drafted resolution 502 at the United Nations ‘demanding an immediate and unconditional withdrawal by the Argentineans from the Falklands.’ The UN had anti-colonial bias and the Security Council members. Mitterrand was instrumental supporter of the UK during the crisis. The UK avoided a veto from the USSR and the resolution past: international law was in Britain’s corner. In a crisis one finds many countries lining up to be a mediator with only one motivation: a desire to cut a figure on the world stage. The final summations show America as Britain’s great ally.

In the House of Commons, Thatcher was patriotic. Even opposition Callaghan supported the war. The Falkland people are island people; like Britain. They are loyal to Britain. They are British people. And should be allowed self-determination as part of the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights. President Galteiri was playing Reagan. The UN could harm Britain because of its realist nature. The entire commons caucus was resolute in answering the call to action. Thatcher describes the Argentinean army’s invasion as being cowardly. Thatcher wanted the Governorship of Rex Hunt of the Falklands to remain British. Thatcher removed Geoffrey Howe from any military planning because finances were secondary to victory.

American diplomat Alexander Haig was the key negotiator in this dispute. Thatcher felt that the Falklands mattered as a precedent for other territorial claims around the world. Withdrawal was a pre-condition. Thatcher pledged to restore a British administration.

The Haig proposal called for
(1) British and Argentinean withdrawal from the island,
(2) no further military forces on both sides,
(3) a Commission of British, American and Argentinean representatives,
(4) economic and financial sanctions against Argentina would be lifted,
(5) traditional local government restored,
(6) open travel and trade between the island and Argentina with a British veto,
(7) an interim administration until a solution is found December 31st, 1982.

Thatcher didn’t mind the proposal. She was concerned with loopholes like the entrance of Argentina immigration to the island thereby corrupting the democratic right to British rule. Changing the population would mean a legally binding secession from British rule: that kind of democracy was unacceptable. Argentina was only interested in negotiating because the British were coming and they wanted to put a better face internationally on the conflict. The Argentina Junta rejected the Haig proposal. The amendments to the proposal were unacceptable to Britain or Argentina. Resolution 502 failed to advance a diplomatic solution. War was inevitable.

South Georgia was easily recaptured by Britain. The press spun a comment Thatcher made upon the success: “Rejoice in victory.” The British national press claimed that Thatcher was a warmonger, who loved the taste of victory. The Total Exclusion Zone was a 200-mile radius of the Falkland Island where Argentina military would expect hostility. Thatcher played the self-determination argument hard. She also fronted total victory in terms of protecting ‘our boys’. Reagan was backing down calling for Thatcher to follow the Peruvian proposal but the military side of the issue was not fully dominant. Peace had to be sacrificed in order to achieve freedom and justice.

Margaret Thatcher on the Origin’s of Her Philosophy

On the Origin’s of Her Philosophy:
Her father was a grocery store owner. She was a scientist who had a keen eye for the small business owner’s capacity to deal with the tides of demand and supply. Individuals should be free to maximize their own ingenuity. The free market is pure, effective and should be the dominant force in any society. The private sector is the most appropriate source of economic prosperity. Economics is Thatcher’s chief concern during the early stages of her leadership.

On British Statism:
Since World War II, Britain has entrenched socialist programs too extensively. The Labour Party had developed a democratic socialist philosophy, which stood for the Third Way between European collectivism and American Capitalism. It was not working in 1979 and never really did. Socialism had weakened the UK systematically. Britain’s economic world dominance has declined through out the post-war. Britain has been the economic loser: sick man of Europe during this period. Jobs, industries have moved overseas. Reversing this trend would be Thatcher’s goal in office. Scotland should not undertake any form of devolution. Any relinquished power from London will inevitably lead down the path to political secession and economic upheaval.

On Civil Service:
Thatcher believed in massive civil service reform. The civil service was 780,000, bloated with Labour Party patronage and needing to be reduced. First, she implemented a stop order on new hiring. She had some problems with permanent secretaries whom she felt were attempting to resist change.

On the European Community:
The European Union should be handled with suspicion. France and Germany have a close relationship. They stand to gain the most from British financial contributions. Germany stands to make enormous returns in international respectability. France stands to protect itself from German aggression. Thatcher fears that the EU will standardize European communities and decrease cultural diversity. The EC/EU should maximize individual rights not diminish them.

Thatcher upon taking office, called for drastic reductions in British budgetary contributions to the EC. The major issue with the EC and German President Schmidt was the British budge issue. The Agricultural subsidies in France were unfair to the British farmer, for example. Britain has unreasonably high tariffs but still has to pay higher levels of budgetary contributions. Thatcher did not see the economic benefits of the EU during the Labour Party era. Thatcher puts Britain’s interests ahead of the EU, every single time. She stands to prevent the EU from moving forward. Thatcher did not commit sterling to the Exchange Rate Mechanism. Rhodesian legal independence was achieved under Thatcher’s leadership.