ABSTRACT
While islander opinion hardened so did that of Argentina. A new Junta took over on 8 December 1981, led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, the Army commander and now President. His colleagues were the head of the Navy, Admiral Jorge Anaya, and of the Air Force, General Lami Dozo. On 18 December the FCO suggested that as a routine courtesy the Prime Minister should send a formal message to the new Government. Her response was that she did not send messages ‘on the occasion of military takeovers’. That same day, the Junta was meeting for the first time on the Malvinas. Within the group Anaya was the leading hawk, and he was also an old friend of Galtieri. An early appointment was Dr Nicanor Costa Mendez as Foreign Minister. He had dealt with the issue in the 1960s and soon concluded that he had left the negotiations in a better state than he now found them. Having been briefed on the lack of progress in the negotiations by Costa Mendez, the Junta discussed the matter again on 5 January 1982 to work out a position prior to the next round of talks with the UK.
