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thomas davison

How US nearly betrayed us to the enemy: Secretary of State threatened to tell Argentina British troops were landing on South GeorgiaNewly declassified files reveal strain Britain and historic allies the U.S.

Operation would have been disastrous had Argentina been forewarned
As Britain neared victory, Reagan urged Thatcher not to completely humiliate the Argentines
By Claire Ellicott
PUBLISHED: 00:01, 28 December 2012 | UPDATED: 08:47, 28 December 2012
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..There was also trouble with the 'special relationship' during the Falklands when the US threatened to tell Argentina that UK troops were landing on South Georgia.

Newly declassified files reveal that Britain's historic allies wanted to tell Argentina that the task force was planning to retake South Georgia, the first of the islands to be invaded by Argentina, on April 21.

The operation on South Georgia was the first stage of the campaign to retake the Falklands and it would have been disastrous had Argentina been forewarned.

Strained relationship: President Ronald Reagan and British PM Margaret Thatcher in 1982
But US secretary of state Al Haig told the British ambassador to Washington, Sir Nicholas Henderson, that informing Britain's enemy was the only way it could stay neutral and negotiate a peace deal.

Henderson reported Haig as saying: 'If the Americans acted in this way they would be able to show even-handedness to the Argentines and this would enable them to continue their role as go-between.'

But Henderson told Haig he was going beyond the obligations of neutrality and that the information could be used by the Argentines to mount attacks on the British Task Force. Haig eventually promised to keep quiet.

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The files also reveal that US President Ronald Reagan urged a 'negotiated settlement' right up to the last moments of the war as Britain battled to win the upper hand.

He issued a last minute appeal to Margaret Thatcher to hand the islands over to international peacekeepers as the British neared victory.

Mrs Thatcher responded: 'Britain had not lost precious lives in battle and sent an enormous Task Force to hand over The Queen's Islands.

The Union Flag and white ensign being raised on South Georgia after the island's recapture by the British

Mrs Thatcher and peacemaker Alexander Haig, the American Secretary of State, in 1982

Then U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig, right, with Francis Pym, the British Foreign Secretary at the time of the Falklands War
'As Britain had had to go into the islands alone, with no outside help, she could not now let the invader gain from his aggression. The Prime Minister asked the President to put himself in her position.

'She had lost valuable British ships and invaluable British lives. She was sure that the President would act in the same way if Alaska had been similarly threatened.'

Files released under the 30-year rule show that as British troops neared victory, Reagan made a late-night phone call to Mrs Thatcher urging her not to completely humiliate the Argentines.

The Royal Marine detachment at Grytviken, South Georgia, released by the National Archives under the 30-year rule

A 'Condemned Islands' leaflet produced to drop on Argentine forces on the Falkland Islands, released by the National Archives under the 30-year rule
'The best chance for peace was before complete Argentine humiliation,' he told her. 'As the UK now had the upper hand militarily it should strike a deal now.'

But Thatcher refused and continued to demand Argentine withdrawal.

The files also include Thatcher's secret testimony to the Franks Inquiry into the conflict, in which she describes the moment she learned that Argentina were about to invade.

She said: 'I just say it was the worst, I think, moment of my life.'

It is time we ended this supposed aliance with America, they do not help our country in any way, they only want our men to die in their wars and do what they want us to do,one being to stay in the EU.
With friends like that we do not need enemies.