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Margaret Thatcher which Charles Haughey at 10 Downing Street PA Wire/PA Wire/Press Association Images

After Falklands invasion, Thatcher sought Haughey’s ‘urgent help’

Suggestions that Ireland would not support British efforts to ostracise Argentina after its invasion of the Falklands in April 1982 were met with warnings from diplomats in London.

THE INVASION OF the Falkland Islands in the spring of 1982 would have a significant impact on Anglo-Irish relations during the course of the summer.

Days after the Argentine forces landed on the tiny islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, asserting their control over its 2,500 or so residents, the British government attempted to gain international support for a series of sanctions on Argentina, then under the control of a military junta.

As a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council and a close neighbour of Britain, Ireland was seen as a crucial country to have on board.

By mid-April the government here had voted in favour of the UN Security Council Resolution 502 which condemned the hostilities and demanded an immediate Argentine withdrawal from the islands.

But with Argentina continuing to act in defiance of the UN resolution, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wrote to Taoiseach Charles Haughey asking for his “urgent help” in bringing through further sanctions through the European Economic Community (EEC) of which both countries were members.

She said that Argentina’s defiance of a Security Council resolution, adopted on 3 April, was “unacceptable” and said that “all available means” should be used to pressure the Argentines.

Thatcher letter

“Economic and financial measures would have a particularly powerful impact,” she wrote, adding: “I now seek your personal help to bring about the urgent introduction of economic and financial measures against Argentina by national action coordinated among us”.

1982 State Papers: Thatcher letter to Haughey (page 1)
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  • 1982 State Papers: Thatcher letter to Haughey (page 1)

  • 1982 State Papers: Thatcher letter to Haughey (page 2)

  • 1982 State Papers: Thatcher letter to Haughey (page 3)

  • Thatcher response to Haughey

In the letter Thatcher outlined three proposals including a complete ban on the supply of arms and military material to Argentina, an embargo on all goods from Argentina, and an end to credit export guarantees with Argentina.

“I know that these measures will affect your own economic interests. But if they are taken rapidly, with the widest possible solidarity among our partners, they should bring the Argentine Government to their senses,” she wrote.

Already Ireland had been warned in a memo from its embassy in London on 7 April of the considerable backlash it could face if it did not support Britain’s efforts to bring about an effective shunning of Argentina for its actions in the Falkands.

British public anger was “inflamed to a degree that has not been witnessed since Suez” the government was told with the message going on to say: “There is great support for a strong reaction by the government, including if necessary the use of military force.”

The government was warned by its embassy in London of a significant consequences of not endorsing the British stance, the message going on to say: “The effects on Anglo-Irish relation would be incalcuable and the progress made in recent years in achieving closer cooperation between London and Dublin would be put at risk”.

It also warned that Irish community would be targeted and that Irish exports could be affected and that “boycotts could not be ruled out”.

‘Display of political good-will’

A day earlier on 6 April, a detailed memo from the Department of Foreign Affairs to the government outlined the requests and concerns of the British government through its embassy in Dublin.

Specifically, the British were looking for sanctions against Argentina which were both bilateral and within framework of the European Economic Community as the EU was then known including the ban on military exports and withholding export credit guarantees.

The memo outlined the impact of the stance Ireland took on its relations with Britain.

“Whatever about the merits of the dispute (and in this we have taken, over the years, a stance which favours the ceding of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands to Argentina) It is a fact that Argentina has acted in defiance of the Security Council,” the memo said.

In its recommendations, the memo noted that acceding to the British request could “if not immediately, at least in the long term” be turned to Ireland’s political and economic advantage.

It concluded that there was “more to be gained… from a display of political good-will combined with cautious co-operation in the economic field, than from appearing to be negative or unduly dilatory”.

‘Deeply grateful’

Having received Thatcher’s letter and deciding to press ahead with supporting EEC sanctions Haughey sought to convey his wish for a “diplomatic solution” in a letter dated 16 April.

He said: “Let me assure you of my government’s continuing readiness to help insofar as we can in advancing a resolution of the crisis and the achievement of an honourable and enduring settlement.”

Thatcher later wrote to Haughey telling him how “deeply grateful” she was for the part he played in securing sanctions against Argentina:

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But the Irish government's position in relation to the Falklands War would change considerably in a matter of weeks following the controversial sinking of the Argentine navy ship, the Belgrano, at the beginning of May.

Read more about the State papers and Ireland's response to the Falklands War on TheJournal.ie tomorrow

For further study, see National Archive Reference Nos: 2012/90/866-875; 2012/59/936; 2012/59/16-17;2012/59/66-68; 2012/59/71-72

Explainer: What’s going on in the Falkland Islands?

Read all of TheJournal.ie's stories on the 1982 State papers, just released>

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21 Comments
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    Mute Dmc
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    Dec 28th 2012, 9:32 AM

    The UK should have no business with an island thousands of miles away next to Argentina. How would we like if they took over the Aran Islands?

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    Mute mattoid
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:05 AM

    By your logic Ireland is geographically close to France therefore France is entitled to sovereignty over Ireland.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:07 AM

    And most Argentinians have no right to be living in South America!

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    Mute Dmc
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:57 AM

    Mattoid, you are misinterpreting my point. The example I gave was an island a couple of miles off the Irish mainland. It wouldnt make sense to have it under French or British jurisdiction. Its Irish! The same should apply to the Falklands. British Impearlism trying to take over the world is over with!

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    Mute Mark Dalt
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    Dec 28th 2012, 11:00 AM

    The UK has annexed territories and planted them with a puppet populations for years. Mattoid is an intellect, no country has a right to take.

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    Mute Reg
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    Dec 28th 2012, 11:02 AM

    But Dmc, the Falklands aren’t a couple of miles of the aregentine coast. They are about 400 miles away.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Dec 28th 2012, 11:38 AM

    And there was no native population to displace – the British were the first to set foot on the islands.

    Given your comments about imperialism, do you also agree that all non-native Argentinians (the vast majority of the population) should withdraw from Argentina?

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    Mute mattoid
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    Dec 28th 2012, 12:00 PM

    My point is that Argentina’s only claim over the Falklands is on the grounds of geographic proximity (a point which you hint at yourself), therefore with that logic what is to stop France making the same claim about Ireland?

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    Mute Chris K
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    Dec 28th 2012, 9:34 AM

    Typical bullyboy tactics employed by the thatcher govt. long may she suffer.

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    Mute Conor Buggy
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:34 AM

    What a horrible thing to say about the woman. Am sure you would love that if someone said the same about your Ma!

    She was doing what she thought was right for her country and for people who want to stay part of her country. Disagree with her actions all you like but nasty personal comments are childish and immature.

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    Mute Mark Dalt
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    Dec 28th 2012, 11:06 AM

    Conor Buggy,

    She was an evil figure and still detested by the majority of Irish people. Tell you what Buggy, if you like her so much, why don’t you leave Ireland and move there. Leave the rest of us alone.

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    Mute Conor Buggy
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    Dec 28th 2012, 12:35 PM

    With eejits such as yourself still in the country I’d be f&&king delighted to! 30 years on and theres still attitudes like that here. Hold on to your hate. I hope it consumes you.

    19
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    Mute _doesnotcompute
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:23 AM

    Not surprising to see the veiled threats from Thatcher’s govt to the Irish Embassy in London.

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    Mute AJ Finnin
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:03 AM

    The French won the Falklands war…let me explain………..

    The French Gov sold exocets to the Argentinians, the Argies were pulverising the brit fleet…….a few weeks into the war the exocets were falling out of the sky harmlessly.

    The French had sold the codes for disarming the exocets to the brits in exchange for billions of pounds worth of north sea oil……

    Here ended the history lesson.

    19
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    Mute Reg
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    Dec 28th 2012, 10:19 AM

    The Argentines only had 5 air lanch Exocets. I believe they had two hits and three misses. Hardly pulverising. Most of the damage was inflicted on the Royal Navy by argentine pilots using plain old fashioned bombs. The Royal Navy were lucky that these bombs failed to explode in a number of cases.

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    Mute Mark Dalt
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    Dec 28th 2012, 12:26 PM

    The economic war has starved the British occupied Islas Malvinas which are now cut off from trading with most of latin America due to an Argentine-led economic blockade. This is costing Britain billions of ££££££££ !

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    Mute Reg
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    Dec 28th 2012, 12:53 PM

    The FIs have never been as prosperous Mark. It is Argentina that is the economic basket case. Don’t let your anti-brittishness get in the way of a good rant though!!

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    Mute mattoid
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    Dec 28th 2012, 2:05 PM

    Mark – the British were the first human beings to ever set foot on the Falklands, and they were settled (occupied??) by them long before Argentine even existed!!

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    Mute Derek Mac An Úcaire
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    Dec 29th 2012, 10:23 AM

    connor buggy i dont know if you are english or irish or just plan confused the idea that thatcher cared for anyone is a joke your words (She was doing what she thought was right for her country and for people who want to stay part of her country.)
    who was see looking out for in england during the coal miners strike ? they were her own people were they not?
    the millions unemployed were they her own people ?.

    as for an irish person hating her.
    you have a very short or be it selective memory if you can not see why any one with any knowledge of that evil woman would have feelings of hatred and contempt for her. chris k and mark are entitled to their opinion. I personally hope see has a long and painful illness and has time to reflect on all the pain and suffering she has put on anyone effected by her time on this earth.

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    Mute Conor Buggy
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    Dec 29th 2012, 12:26 PM

    Maybe ask the falkland islanders what they think of her!

    I am Irish and happy to say that I can look back on our past without getting full of hate.

    And she cant remember anything these days as she has dementia. Something I hope you nor Mark or Chris ever has to witness in a family member. Thats why I said his comment was horrible. Nowhere did I say I agreed with her. Read what I actually said!

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    Mute Eoin Bishopski
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    Apr 25th 2013, 9:13 PM

    Maggie was not a nice politician. Hitler was not a nice leader. George Bush was an evil president. Get over it.

    1
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