MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Thatcher's “My Falklands War”

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is re-telling what the Times newspaper calls “the riveting inside story of how she took Britain to war to reclaim the Falklands”.

In the first of two articles, she admits she was not especially alarmed when the Argentine scrap merchants first landed on South Georgia and was informed about imminent Argentine invasion only three days before it happened, by Defence Secretary John Nott.

Margaret Thatcher writes: "John gave the Ministry of Defence view that the Falklands c could not be retaken once they were seized. I could not believe it. These were our people, our islands. I said instantly: 'If they are invaded, we have got to get them back'".

Navy Chief's task force assurance

She immediately called in the Chief of Naval Staff, Sir Henry Leach, who, she says, was quiet, calm and confident, telling her he could put together a task force, ready to leave in 48 hours.

Margaret Thatcher says her "outrage and determination" were now "matched by a sense of relief and confidence. Britain's armed forces would win through".

She requested United States President Reagan to press Argentine President General Galtieri "to draw back from the brink" but Galtieri refused to take President Reagan's call until it was too late to stop the invasion.

She describes how Britain's United Nations Ambassador, Sir Anthony Parsons, "managed a diplomatic triumph in persuading the Security Council to demand an immediate and unconditional withdrawal by the Argentines".

This was not easy because of the "old anti-colonialist bias of the UN", but it was a "flagrant act of aggression". She was particularly grateful to French President Mitterand who, with the leaders of the Old Commonwealth, was among the "staunchest of supporters" pledging support.

Diplomatic armada or fighting force?

Her announcement that the task force was ready to sail was cheered in the House of Commons but "not everyone was cheering the same thing". Some regarded it as "a purely diplomatic armada that would get the Argentineans back to the negotiating table. They never intended it should actually fight. Others shared my view that the task force would have to be used but they doubted the Government's will and stamina". She foresaw there would be setbacks causing even some of a hawkish disposition to question whether the game was worth the candle. How long would a coalit