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Info only 82 Apr 2 Fr Chronology Key [Chronology] Falklands: Argentina invaded the islands
Text 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) MT Engagement Diary
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) Prime Minister: MT engagement diary ("Prime Minister's Engagements for the Week Beginning Friday 2 April") [pre-Falklands plan; the week that never was] [released 2013]
Text 82 Apr 2 Fr Speeches, interviews, etc. Key Thatcher memoirs Falklands: Argentina invades the Falklands [memoirs extract]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO record of conversation (0015Z) (US Secretary of State Haig-Carrington) [third call by Haig to Carrington, received at Downing Street] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (State Department) Falklands: State Department telegram to USMIS New York (0019Z) ("Falkland Islands Dispute in the Security Council") [published 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO note for the record (c0100Z) ("Points arising from Ministers' discussion at No.10") ["as reported by Mr Ure" - decisions made] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (Argentine Archivo General de la Nación) Argentine Junta: Argentine Presidency record of Reagan-Galtieri phone conversation (0034-0114Z) (Spanish original & transcript, with English translation) [Reagan fails to persuade Galtieri not to invade the Falklands] [declassified 2013; this copy 2015]
Text 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (Rentschler MSS) Falklands: Jim Rentschler diary (imminent Argentine invasion) [Reagan calls Galtieri; writes result to MT]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (TNA) Falklands: President Reagan letter to MT (0245Z) (Reagan phone call to Galtieri) [just spoken with Galtieri: "he left me with the clear impression that he has embarked on a course of armed conflict"] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: President Reagan letter for MT (0245Z) (his conversation with Galtieri: situation in the Falklands) [published 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (State Department) Falklands: State Department telegram to USE Buenos Aires & USE London (0304Z) ("UK-Argentine Confrontation: Secretary Calls In Argentine Ambassador") [published 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (State Department) Falklands: State Department to USE Buenos Aires (0304Z) ("UK-Argentine confrontation - Secretary calls in Argentine Ambassador") [if force used "we will have to side with the British"] [declassified 2001]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Falklands: UKMIS New York telegram 363 to FCO (0329Z) ("Falkland Islands Crisis") [Parsons' statement of 1 April to UN Security Council - MT copy] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKMIS New York telegrams 364-365 to FCO (0330Z) ("Falkland Islands Crisis") [Presidential statement in Security Council: "concern about the tension in the region", calls for restraint] [declassified Aug 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKMIS New York telegram 365 to FCO (0348Z) ("Falkland Islands Crisis") [Parsons statement in Security Council: calls for Argentines to "refrain from the use or threat of force in the region"] [declassified Aug 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (State Department) Falklands: State Department telegram to USE Buenos Aires and USE London (0437Z) ("President's Conversation with Argentine President Galtieri") [published 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (State Department) Falklands: State Department to USE Buenos Aires (0437Z) ("President's conversation with Argentine President") [use of force "would gravely compromise US-Argentine relations"] [declassified 2002]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 88 to UKE Buenos Aires (0444Z) ("Falklands") [Reagan call to Galtieri failed] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO minute (0445Z) ("US Help") [call by UK Ambassador to Washington Henderson to FCO; Henderson "confident that the US would strongly condemn the invasion if it took place"] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Media: Press Digest for MT (Falklands, Northern Ireland, industrial disputes) [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) Media: Hugh Colver minute for MT (“Week Ahead”) ["Major News Events are likely to include the Falkland Islands"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKMIS New York telegram 366 to FCO (0510Z) ("Falkland Islands") [good results of meeting of UN Security Council - "we got as much out of the council in one day as we could have done"] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Press Office bulletin No.76 ("Falkland Islands: Citizenship and Radio") ["We should avoid getting into the numbers game but remind people of the Government's commitment to the Falklanders"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Foreign Office Legal Adviser minute ("Falkland Islands/International Court of Justice") [possible reference to ICJ at instance of UN Security Council] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO minute to Carrington PS ("Falkland Islands: scope for further US assistance") [Fearn sees nothing further possible at present, given failure of Reagan call to Galtieri] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO Defence Department minute for Foreign Secretary ("Retaking the Falkland Islands: The Political Costs") ["hard to persuade people that the game was worth the candle" - MT's copy] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO Defence Department minute for Foreign Secretary ("Retaking the Falkland Islands: the political costs") [Richard Luce's copy] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO draft statement (Lord Privy Seal's Commons statement on the situation) ["a real expectation that an Argentine attack against the Falkland Islands will take place very soon"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: MOD draft for Nott speech (Commons Saturday session) [including paragraph drafted by First Sea Lord] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO letter to No.10 (Carrington suggests MT send message to Governor and people of the Falklands) ["we admire their steadfastness and our thoughts are with them"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: ?FCO draft ("Draft Joint Press Statement: Falkland Islands") [statement for Carrington and Nott] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Fearn minute ("Falkland Island: Cabinet: 0930 Hours 2 April") [check list of points for action following Argentine invasion] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Cabinet: Minutes of Full Cabinet - CC(82) 14th (0845Z) (Falkland Islands) [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Argentine Archivo General de la Nación) Argentine Junta: Argentine Embassy London telegram 810 to MFA (received 1005Z) (British press) (Spanish original) [naval deployments] [declassified 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Lobby Briefing (1030Z) (Cabinet, Answers of Interest [in Parliament], Falklands, FCO news conference) ["We could not confirm reports of any invasion"; MT returned from Windsor 11pm last night for meeting of ministers] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 50 to Port Stanley (1030Z) (Carrington message to Falklands Governor Rex Hunt) ["you have discretion from me and the Defence Secretary to blow up the airstrip"] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO flash telegram 624 to UKE Washington (1100Z) ("Falklands crisis") [text of Atkins statements to Commons] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Office of the Secretary of Defense) Falklands: Situation Report by State Department Falkland Islands Working Group (1100Z) ("Situation in Falkland Islands as of 0600 EST") [published 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: FCO press conference (1130Z) (Falklands) [could not confirm invasion reports, but appeared imminent] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Key Archive (Thatcher MSS) Falklands: FCO note (c1200Z) ("Falklands") [British Antarctic Survey ship RSS Bransfield intercepts Falkland Island radio saying that 200 troops have landed: "We must accept this as confirmation of an Argentine landing" - MT's copy] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO minute (c1200Z) ("Falklands") [report of Argentine troop movements in the Falklands: "We must accept this as confirmation of an Argentine landing" - fuller version, MOD now confirming report] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Speeches, interviews, etc. Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: BBC Radio Interview with Dr David Owen MP (1200Z) (claim that government was withholding information about the invasion)
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: White House press briefing (1241Z) (announcements; Falkland Islands; economy) [news of invasion]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Science and Technology: No.10 record of conversation (1215Z) (Prime Minister’s lunch on 2 April: higher education and the new technologies) [note of discussion after MT left] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) Falklands: Omand minute to MOD Resident Clerks ("Radiopaging") [rules governing use of radiopagers provided to Nott and duty private secretary during crisis] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Air Staff minute ("Assessment of Argentinian Air Force") ["very hurriedly prepared ... We are lacking in detailed information"] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: MOD briefing for UKMILREP NATO (1230Z) (sitrep) [decisions made at MT, Carrington, Nott meeting 2330 on 1 Apr] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO flash telegram 622 to UKE Washington (1300Z) ('Falklands') [Carrington told Haig in phone conversation last night that "we have had no option but to place the fleet in a state of immediate readiness"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 2 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: US Chief of Naval Operations telegram to Joint Chiefs (1330Z) ("Argentina situation") [Admiral Anaya informs him personally of invasion; Hayward immediately cancels visit and departs for Brazil] [declassified 2009]

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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