ABSTRACT

Everything that had ever been written about the poverty of Britain’s military options in the South Atlantic was being validated. It was possible to assemble a task force but the ‘preparations could not be concealed and it would prove highly provocative and hence escalatory, unless the Argentines were preparing to invade the Falklands.’ Of this, the MoD told the Prime Minister, there was ‘at present no sign.’ The FCO briefing for an expected Defence Committee on 1 April conveyed a greater degree of urgency but no sense that an invasion was two days away. The FCO’s objectives for the meeting were to clarify that diplomatic options were being pursued on South Georgia, although ‘we have few cards to play,’ to get civil and military contingency planning in hand and to secure a decision to retain Endurance for at least one more year.