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Date: 31 Mar 1982.

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Showing items 1 - 50 of 80.
Text 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) MT Engagement Diary
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) USA: UKE Washington telegram 1054 to FCO (0305Z) (“President Reagan’s press conference”) [defense of economic policy] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Key Archive (TNA) Cold War: UKE Washington telegram 1055 to FCO (0310Z) (“Reagan statement on nuclear arms policy and East-West relations”) [“My goal is to reduce nuclear weapons dramatically”] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKMIS New York telegram 343 to FCO (0335Z) ("South Georgia: Security Council") [if (as Fearn hinted over the phone) Argentines contemplating 'dramatic' (ie, military) action against the Falklands in next few days, should consider convening Security Council ourselves] [declassified Aug 2015]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Press Major Commentary (The Times) “These paltry islands keeping us apart” ["David Watt examines the growing rift between Britain and Argentina"]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Press Major Commentary (The Times) “British sub on the move” [nuclear-powered HMS Superb believed despatched, with Royal Fleet Auxiliary]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Press Minor Commentary (The Times) “Moreover ... Miles Kington” [Falklands humour]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Media: Press Digest for MT (European Council, Falklands, Economy, Industry) [Falklands: "This is the next big story - and the story is in the pops - with gunboats, including Navy oil tankers and nuke submarines heading south for a confrontation with the Argentines"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Armstrong briefing for MT ("Falkland Islands (OD(82) 17)") [to take operational decisions now needed] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Belize: Armstrong briefing for MT ("OD: Belize: Withdrawal of the Garrison") [declassified 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Defence: Armstrong briefing for MT ("Statement on the Defence Estimates 1982 (OD(82) 16)") [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Nicholls minute to DNOT & others (before 1200Z) ("South Georgia") [draft briefing for Nott at OD tomorrow; meeting at noon to discuss] [declassified Jul 2017]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Defence Staff briefing for Nott ("Defence & Overseas Policy Committee Meeting on Thursday 1st April at 11.30AM") [South Georgia] [declassified Feb 2018]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Omand minute to ACDS(Ops) ("Falkland Islands: Air Defence") [Nott wants urgent examination of providing Rapier to Falklands, via Ascension and Fort Austin] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Lobby Briefing (1000Z) (Ronald Bell, Answers of Interest [in Parliament], Falklands, EC mandate) [Falklands: "Inevitably the PM was being kept in touch. ... We were seeking a diplomatic solution"; would not confirm or deny ship or submarine movements] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: MODUK signal for Chief of Defence Staff on tour (1035Z) (OD & DOE meetings) [update prepared for Lewin - two SSNs being prepared; ministers given rough ride in Commons, "reconsideration of Endurance's future seems inevitable"] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) MT: MT reading at Sir Ronald Bell's memorial service (1100Z) (Ephesians 6, 10-18) ["For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness in this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"] [this text released 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO draft telegram 81 to UKE Buenos Aires (c1200z) ("Falklands Crisis") [go ahead with emissary proposal; dangerous situation created by UK press reports of despatch of SSN] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 100 to UKE Tel Aviv (1240Z) ("Falklands Crisis") [draft message to UKE Buenos Aires concerning diplomatic moves to prevent conflict] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Minutes of MOD Defence Operations Executive - DOE 2nd Meeting/82 (1300Z) (Intelligence, HMS Endurance, Message to the Falklands Governor, Air Defence) [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: John Weston minute to Robin Fearn ("The Falklands") [account of Defence Operations Executive meeting; decision to keep HMS Endurance at sea rather than return her to Grytviken] [declassified Aug 2015]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Assistant Chief of Defence Staff minute to Secretary Defence Operations Executive ("Falkland Islands") [warns against overstated objections - "We must not drive Ministers into the position where they say to themselves what value are we getting for £13,000m per year"] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Director of Naval Operations minute for Assistant Chief of Naval Staff ("Surface Fleet deployment to Falklands - assessment of force currently nominated") [Fieldhouse still assessing whether to send Hermes or Invincible] [declassified Jul 2017]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKE Buenos Aires Naval Attaché signal to MODUK Navy (1420Z) ("South Georgia: Argentine naval deployment") [information from US Naval Attaché; all Argentine fleet at sea except for Belgrano and smaller units; departure "premature as previously no exercises planned until after Easter"] [declassified Spt 2017]
Text 82 Mar 31 We Speeches, interviews, etc. Major Margaret Thatcher HC Stmnt: [Brussels European Council] (1430Z)
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Lobby Briefing (1500Z) (India, British Rail, Falklands, European Community) [Falklands: although Carrington in Israel, still leading on this matter; MT "would continue to take a close interest"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Key Archive (TNA) Falklands: Acting Chief of Defence Staff briefing for Nott (?before 1700Z) ("Falkland Islands") [updated military options before OD tomorrow; plus draft and criticism of it as too negative] [declassified Jul 2017]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKE Buenos Aires telegram 129 to FCO (1740Z) ("South Georgia: Argentine Press Treatment") [reporting on Falklands crisis in Argentine press] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 81 to UKE Buenos Aires (1800Z) ("Falklands Crisis") [go ahead with emissary proposal; dangerous situation created by UK press reports of despatch of SSN] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: US Secretary of State Haig letter to Carrington (1802Z) (US efforts regarding Argentine landing on South Georgia) ["we have a greater chance of influencing Argentine behaviour if we appear to them not to favour one side or the other"] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: US Secretary of State Haig letter to Carrington (1802Z) (US efforts regarding Argentine landing on South Georgia) ["we have a greater chance of influencing Argentine behaviour if we appear to them not to favour one side or the other" - US text] [declassified 2012]
Info only 82 Mar 31 We Chronology Key [Chronology] Falklands: Argentine invasion learned to be imminent - likely to be Friday; MT evening meeting at her room in House of Commons
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: MT letter to Reagan (2025Z) (Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands) [published 2015]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Key Archive (TNA) Falklands: MT message to President Reagan (2025Z) (intelligence reports Argentine navy preparing to invade) [MT asks Reagan to intervene with Galtieri] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 179 to UKMIS New York (2030Z) ("Telecon Goulding/Fearn: South Georgia: Argentine action in UN") [Argentines not now seeking emergency debate in UN Security Council but to circulate a note] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 614 to UKE Washington (2040Z) ("Falkland Islands") [MT message to Reagan; Argentine invasion seemingly imminent - redacted to remove reference to secret sources] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 614 to UKE Washington (2040Z) ("Falkland Islands") [reports of imminent invasion, need to seek rapid reaction from White House] [declassified Aug 2015]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) El Salvador: UKE Tegucigalpa telegram 102 to FCO (2145Z) ("El Salvador Elections") ["Salvadorean people's overwhelming preference for a settlement by the ballot rather than the bullet"] [declassified Dec 2016]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: USE Buenos Aires telegram to State Department (2208Z) ("South Georgia Dispute: Junta's Response to Our Demarche") [published 2015]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 45 to Port Stanley (2215Z) (warning to Falklands Governor of possible invasion) [contingency measures] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 180 to UKMIS New York (2244Z) ("Falkland Islands") [Argentina invasion of Falklands appears likely; possible UN actions] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKE Buenos Aires telegram 132 to FCO (2320Z) ("Falklands Crisis") [UK Ambassador delivers message to Argentine Foreign Minister Costa Mendez] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) US: George Thomas letter to MT (commemorative presentation for Reagan) [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Government machinery: Brittan letter to MT ("Internal audit in Government Departments") ["I undertook to let you have a progress report... enclosed... A useful start has been made in what we know is a long campaign which needs to be sustained"] [declassified Aug 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Aerospace: Central Policy Review Staff letter to Biffen ("Draft objectives for British Airways and British Airports ") [outlines need for more precise objectives, to address BA financial crisis, than those presented in Biffen minute to MT of 10 March] [declassified Jan 2014]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Bank of England) Hungary: Bank of England record of conversation between Deputy Governor & Loehnis (“Hungary”) [Henderson “very pessimistic about the possibilities of muzzling Weinberger”] [declassified 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Hungary: Treasury letter to Bank of England (‘Hungary’) [records BOE decision to participate in BIS rescue without HMG guarantee] [declassified 2014]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Government machinery: No.10 minute to MT ("Parliamentary Affairs") ["We seem to have Parliamentary problems over the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General"] [declassified Aug 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) Norway: MT letter to Prime Minister Willoch of Norway (thanks for message) [released 2013]
PDF 82 Mar 31 We Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Media: Ingham minute to MT ("Panorama") [MT asked to do live interview; Kee and Lindley as interviewers, not Robin Day] [released 2013]

Documents lie at the core of this website, each one dated and sorted chronologically (by default) in search results. Most are images in PDF format of original paper documents scanned or filmed for the site. There also transcripts of speeches and interviews, press articles, photos, videos, and more. The document database contains tens of thousands of items and permits complex searching.

Files are multi-page PDFs from which most of the documents on the site are selected. All of Mrs Thatcher’s official files from No.10 are available in full on this site (paper copies are stored at the National Archives in the series PREM19), as well as most of those of Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson as Chancellor (stored at TNA as series T639 and T640).

Guides are articles about key events and topics. Many were written to accompany annual releases of Mrs Thatcher’s private and party papers at the Churchill Archive Centre in Cambridge.

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