So why did it happen ? What were the
events that caused two countries to go to war
over a group of Islands that, according to
most members of the British public in 1982,
were somewhere off the coast of Scotland ? To
answer this we have to look back to the start
of the dispute which has its roots in the
15th century.
| 1493 |
|
Pope Alexander VI
grants New World territorial rights
to the Spanish Crown |
| 1494 |
|
By the Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain and Portugal divide up the
American continent |
| 1502 |
|
Amerigo Vespucci may have been
driven by gales within sight of the
islands |
| 1592 |
|
Capt John Davis is also driven by
fierce storms 'in among certain isles
never before discovered' |
| 1690 |
|
First recorded landing by Capt
John Strong, who names the 'Falkland
Sound' after the treasurer of the
Royal Navy. Over a period of years
many French ships visit the islands,
which they call Les Iles Malouines
after the French port of St Malo.
This becomes Las Malvinas in Spanish |
| 1764 |
|
Louis Antoine de Bougainville
establishes the first settlement at
Port Loius on East Falkland |
| 1765 |
|
Capt John Byron plants a
vegetable garden on Saunders Island
off West Falkland, and calls the bay
Port Egmont after the First Lord of
the Admiralty |
| 1766 |
|
The French claim is sold to the
Spanish Crown |
| 1770 |
|
Five Spanish ships force the
British settlers (who had come in
1766 to build the Port Egmont
settlement) to quit |
| 1771 |
|
After negotiations to avoid war,
Port Egmont is restored to the
British, though Spain makes it clear
that sovereignty has not been yielded |
| 1774 |
|
The British pull out of Port
Egmont, leaving a lead plaque as a
token of ownership of 'Falkland's
Island' |
| 1816 |
|
A group of disaffected colonies
in South America splits away from
Spain's authority, claiming all
Spanish property previously
controlled from Buenos Aires,
including the Falklands. This group
will become the new Republic of
Argentina |
| 1820 |
|
The new state formally takes over
the Falklands, sending a frigate to
Port Louis |
| 1826 |
|
Louis Vernet and 90 Argentine
colonists re-establish the Port Louis
settlement |
| 1828 |
|
Vernet is appointed governor |
| 1831 |
|
Vernet seizes US sealing
schooners. In retaliation, the US
corvette Lexington destroys the fort
at Port Louis, imprisons the
inhabitants and declares that the
islands are free of all government. A
new governor set up by the Argentines
to build a penal colony is murdered
by the prisoners |
| 1833 |
|
The British sloop Clio takes over
Port Louis, sends the Argentine
colonists to Buenos Aires, and claims
the Falklands for Britain |
| 1910 |
|
Foreign office research comes to
the surprising conclusion that
British actions in the past may have
been high-handed, and that there may
be some substance in the Argentines'
claims. After World War I, such
doubts are banished by recourse to
the new international doctrine of
'prescription', in effect a
justification of squatters'
rights,whatever the rights and wrongs
of occupation.
Argentina also believes its own
case to be less than watertight - but
extends its claim to embrace the
dependencies, South Georgia, the
South Sandwich Islands, and British
Antarctic Territory.
Before and after World War II both
sides discuss 'leaseback' by which
Britain might concede sovereignty in
return for lengthy lease.
|
| 1960 |
14 December |
UN Resolution 1514 calls for an
end to colonialism; Britain lists the
Falkland Islands as a colony and
Argentina objects. |
| 1965 |
15 December |
UN Resolution 2065 calls for
Britain and Argentina to negotiate
over the Islands |
| 1967 |
|
George Brown assures Nicanor
Costa Mendez that sovereignty is
negotiable and talks are opened
between the countries in New York.
The British Government seems keen to
rid itself finally of the Falklands
problem |
| 1968 |
|
The Falkland Islands Emergency
Committee is set up to thwart these
tendencies through the 'Falklands
lobby', and in April the Foreign
Secretary assures the House that the
interests of the islanders are
paramount in any discussion |
| 1970 |
|
The Conservatives regain power,
and encourage the Argentines to
employ 'seduction rather than rape' -
in other words to win the hearts of
the islanders by good deeds |
| 1971 |
1 July |
Argentina and Britain agree on
measures to improve communications
between the Islands and the Argentine
mainland |
| 1973 |
April |
Britain refuses to discuss
sovereignty; negotiations stalled |
| 1974 |
September |
A commercial agreement gives
Argentina's state-owned oil company
the right to sell petroleum products
in the Falklands at mainland prices |
| 1975 |
|
After Argentine hostility,
British officials are instructed to
hold up further talks without seeming
to do so |
| 1976 |
|
The Military Government takes
power in Argentina |
| |
January |
Lord Shackleton visits the
Falklands to investigate their
economic future |
| |
4 February |
A British survey ship heading for
Port Stanley is fired on by the
Argentine navy. Relations between the
two countries at a low ebb |
| |
July |
Lord Shackleton's report suggests
that the major natural resources of
the Islands - oil and fish - should
be developed in co-operation with
Argentina |
| 1977 |
|
Talks about 'economic
co-operation' get nowhere with either
islanders or Argentines. An
intelligence report speaks of a
possible intervention in South
Georgia. The Cabinet decides to send
two frigates and a submarine. Nothing
happens |
| 1980 |
28 November |
Minister of State Nicholas Ridley
visits the Falklands to discuss
political options including a
'leaseback' arrangement with
Argentina |
| |
2 December |
In Parliament Conservative,
Labour and Liberal MPs attack
Ridley's suggestions to the
Islanders. |
| 1981 |
|
Galtieri takes over from Viola as
President of Argentina |
