ABSTRACT
The importance of the principles at stake undoubtedly conditioned the speedy and unusually coherent policy of the European Community. The principles which moved so many nations during the Falklands crisis are both clear and basic to the system established by the United Nations (UN) Charter. Diplomatic action at the UN in May and June showed that, for the most part, principles matter in two related senses. Principles are, after all, the ephemeral strands of extrapolative logic linking one situation with others. The lack of African support for Argentina is also understandable in another sense which illustrates the role of reciprocal principles in a slightly different fashion. The direct connection made by governments between the events in the South Atlantic and matters close to their own national interest was apparent to anyone following the proceedings in the Security Council.
