ABSTRACT
The Belgrano had been sunk during a hiatus in diplomatic efforts to settle the crisis, with the Haig effort concluded and other initiatives just starting to get off the ground. It was alleged after the war that the purpose of the attack on the Argentine cruiser was to stall these initiatives. This is not correct, and if it had been the intention it certainly failed. Diplomatic activity was as intensive during May as it had been during April. The allegation centred on an initiative taken by the Peruvian Government. This was abandoned in its early stages by the Argentine side on receipt of news of the loss of the Belgrano. By contrast the British, rather than exult in its collapse, desperately tried to give it life.
