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Info only 82 Apr 5 Mo Chronology Key [Chronology] Falklands: FCO Ministers resigned, Pym new Foreign Secretary; Task Force sailed
Text 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) MT Engagement Diary
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKMIS New York telegram 393 to FCO (0045Z) ("Security Council: Falkland Islands") [two important factors at UN (1) antipathy to use of force (2) "we have virtually no support on the substance of the dispute"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 111 to UKE Buenos Aires (0045Z) ("South Georgia: removal of BAS personnel") [Endurance and Bransfield ruled out; approach Swiss and ask Argentine intentions; ICRC willing to assist] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: CINCFLEET signal to HMS Norfolk (0115Z) (Exocet) [verify whether [Argentine] Fletcher Class destroyers carry Exocet missiles] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKHC Wellington telegram 99 to FCO (0245Z) ("Falklands") [conversation with PM Muldoon - New Zealand MFA opposed to breaking diplomatic relations with Argentina, but he was inclined to do so] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKHC Wellington telegram 101 to FCO (0415Z) ("Falklands") [New Zealand breaking diplomatic relations with Argentina and ending flights from Argentine airlines] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKHC Port Louis telegram 67 to FCO (0540Z) (Mauritius Government statement on invasion) ["deplores and condemns unreservedly the aggression"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Press Key Commentary (The Times) Falklands: “We Are All Falklanders Now” [leading article urging Carrington's resignation]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Press Major Commentary (The Times) Falklands: “A mood to test the Iron Lady's metal” [Frank Johnson in the Commons - account of Saturday session]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Press Major Commentary (The Times) Falklands: “Do you surrender Mr Hunt? You're a reasonable man” [Simon Winchester account of invasion]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Media: Press Digest for MT (?0700Z) (Week Ahead; Falklands, US support, resignations, public borrowing, unions and pay) ["Press generally baying for Lord Carrington's blood ... his friends say he is thinking of resigning"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Press Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: No.10 note of BBC Today ("Today summary April 5") [main news items; "Mrs Thatcher not looking for any resignations at present"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKHC Canberra telegram 134 to FCO (0700Z) ("Falklands") [Australian preference NOT to break off diplomatic relations with Argentina] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Prime Minister of Belize message to MT (0800Z) ("Falkland Islands") ["deplores and condemns the armed invasion"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Falklands: Prime Minister Price of Belize message to MT (Argentine invasion of the Falklands) [Price condemns invasion and calls for withdrawal of Argentine forces] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Cooper minute for Chief of Defence Staff (dissident groups within Argentina) [MT asked Cooper whether "our friends" could cause problems through them] [declassified Feb 2018]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Nott APS minute to ACDS(Ops) ("Falkland Islands: House of Commons debate, 7th April") [possible need for "very swift advice" during the debate; "vitally important for all concerned with the Operation that the Government should receive the full backing from the House of Commons"] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Nott minute for Lewin (command of Task Force and Royal Marines ashore) [no announcements to be made without his authority; shall have to satisfy colleagues that the best available individuals have been chosen] [declassified Feb 2018]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Lewin minute for Nott ("Operation Corporate: Command Arrangements") [CINCFLEET "has full command"; Woodward "Operational command of the Task Force is vested in ... [Woodward] as Combined Commander of the Task Force"; possible despatch of 3-star officer later] [declassified Sep 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Lewin minute for Nott ("Rules of Engagement for the SSN's") [explains and encloses copy] [declassified Feb 2018]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Defence Staff note for Lewin ("Soviet Naval Activity in the Southern Atlantic - 5 April") ["no apparent reaction by the Soviet Navy" to the invasion, "all movements seen are normal and were expected"] [declassified Feb 2018]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: MOD note ("SAS Operations in support of 'Corporate'") [troops available; command and control; SAS tasks; SAS capabilities; communications; exercise penalties] [declassified Feb 2018]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: CNS PS minute to DCDS(I) ("Capabilities of the Argentine Armed Forces") [shortcomings of analysis, such as absence of reference to anti air warfare capability] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: CNS PS minute to SECCOS ("Operation Corporate: Parliamentary and Press Briefings") [corrects account of Argentine navy and its air warfare capability] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: DUS(P) minute for Cooper ("Falkland Islands: Official Machinery") [meeting of ODO(SA); Armstrong also plans "much smaller group" to plan long-term and support ODSA] [declassified Feb 2018]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Peter Blaker aide memoire ("My part in events leading to the invasion of the Falkland Islands") [Wiggin-Luce disagreement over use of Endurance's helicopters; other events as seen from perspective of Nott's deputy] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (Haig MSS) Falklands: Haig notes ("AMH personal notes") [Falklands - "We don't want too high a profile"; El Salvador, Central America, Castro] [released Mar 1993]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKE Tokyo telegram 161 to FCO (0815Z) ("Falklands") [Ambassador thanking for support in UNSC, but pressing for public statement by Japanese government and summoning of Argentine Ambassador] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: MOD minutes of MOD Chiefs of Staff Committee - COS 5th Meeting/82 (0830Z) (intelligence assessment, own forces, public relations, decisions required, SSN rules of engagement, military appreciation, withdrawal from Belize, use of Gurkhas with 5 Infantry Brigade) [full text, including list of attendees] [declassified Aug 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO notes of 5th Meeting/82 of Chiefs of Staff Committee (0830Z) (refuelling, rules of engagement, military options, South Georgia, Defence White Paper, Ghurkas [sic], Gibraltar) [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO letter to MOD (FCO doubts over use of Gurkhas in Falklands) [Wright raised at COS 4 Apr; FCO shares Nott's doubts on this point] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKE Beijing telegram 200 to FCO (0840Z) ("First Chinese reactions to the Falkland Islands dispute") [Chinese media covering story but avoiding all comment; Cradock believes China will await further developments and clarification of Third World's position before making views clearer] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKE Paris telegram 313 to FCO (0907Z) ("Falklands: follow up to Security Council Resolution") [liaising over requests for cooperation] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: No.10 letter to FCO (critical letters to MT from general public) [seeks advice on reply] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Carrington minute to MT ("Falkland Islands: Economic Measures") [plans for further economic and financial measures against Argentina] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Carrington letter to MT ("Falkland Islands: Economic Measures") ["The UK's ability, on our own, to inflict damage on Argentina is limited"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Gibraltar: FCO letter to No.10 (“Gibraltar”) [MT “This is suspiciously like the Falkland islands assessments - before invasion”] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO minute for Armstrong ("Falkland Islands: Economic Measures") [amendment to minute sent this morning; pressure of time] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Note to Press Officers ("Possible Economic and Trade Sanctions Against Argentina") [HMG "considering a wide range of options including diplomatic and economic measures"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO letter to No.10 ("The Falklands: Naval Deployments in November/December 1977") [research into files shows force was kept secret from Argentina] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO letter to No.10 ("Falkland Islands") [papers addressing question of whether Falklands invasion could have been predicted on the basis of Argentine Government statements and press comment] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO record of conversation ("Falkland Islands: the American attitude") [conversation with Roger Harrison of USE London; FCO "not particularly happy with having the situation described as an unfortunate dispute between two friendly nations"] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Falklands: FCO note to No.10 ("Communications with Port Stanley") [report on functioning of outside communications with Port Stanley prior to Argentine invasion] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Minor Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: FCO minute to FCO News Department ("Falkland Islands: ICRC") [ICRC sensitive as to their neutrality] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Cold War: MT letter to Reagan (East-West economic relations) [sanctions against USSR potentially affecting UK companies] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKHC Singapore telegram 81 to FCO (0920Z) (Singapore Government statement) ["strongly deplores Argentina's invasion and occupation"; will form basis of Lee Kuan Yew reply to MT letter] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 104 to UKE Buenos Aires (0945Z) ("Falklands") [Carrington requests time scale of Argentine decision to invade; seeks to respond to attacks on HMG] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: CINCFLEET signal to CTF317.8 (0956Z) (Agave radar) [recognition of radar fitted to Super-Etendard aircraft] [declassified Jun 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 5 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Cabinet Office record of conversation (1000Z) ("Implications for civil departments of the situation in the South Atlantic; future coordinating machinery in Whitehall") [review of progress; decision not to use Transition to War Committee] [declassified Dec 2012]

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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