ABSTRACT
At the same time as the Defence Committee decided to send the small task force on 21 November they also discussed negotiating tactics. The Argentines were still pressing for progress on sovereignty and in September 1976 had resubmitted the proposal for an eight year joint administration prior to a transfer, a list of safeguards for the islanders and a request that Argentine business interests be allowed to acquire a majority shareholding in the Falklands Islands Company. The islanders were moving in the opposite direction: following their May elections the Council was even more hard-line. While lease-back remained the least bad option it was hard to see how it would bridge this widening gap. The moment did not seem propitious for a direct negotiation between the two views, and so, despite a promise that the islanders could be involved directly in all stages of the negotiating process, in this case it was hoped that they would be satisfied by a report back to the Council by Rowlands.
