The Prime Minister is spending a second night in the Falkland Islands after a hectic day, visiting the airfield at Stanley and touring units of the garrison. Later she laid a wreath at a Memorial for the Islanders who died in the two world wars and attended a service at Stanley Cathedral. At a meeting of the Executive and Legislative Council in Port Stanley, Mrs Thatcher described what she called her “three great experiences” arising from the crisis. The first, she said, was when she heard of the invasion; the second, when she was told that the white flag of surrender was flying over Stanley; and she added: “The third one is to come here”. We've had this report from Port Stanley by our reporter, Nicholas Witchell: [end p1]
Witchell
At their private meeting with the Prime Minister, the island's councillors outlined those things that are regarded as vital for the Falklands development. They stressed to her the importance of developing internal air services and the need to purchase more farms from the large landowners. A proposal put forward recently by Lord Shackleton, but which the government seems wary of. The councillors also expressed their heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister. In return, they heard Mrs. Thatcher describe her visit to the Falklands as a profoundly moving experience for her.
The Prime Minister's visit to the islands has continued with an inspection of one of the long stretches of coastline near Stanley which were mined by the Argentines and which are now fenced off. Later, Mrs. Thatcher and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, who directed the Task Force's operations from England, and who's accompanying the Prime Minister on her trip, laid wreathes at the memorial to the people of the Falkland Islands who died in the two World Wars. Mrs. Thatcher went on from there to a service in Stanley Cathedral.
ACTUALITE SINGING.
Witchell
It was a more serious occasion, in contrast to the enthusiastic greetings from local people and servicemen earlier. And that sombre feeling will continue as the Prime Minister now begins to tour some of the major battle sites and the places where lives were lost.