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Date: 20 Apr 1982.

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Showing items 1 - 50 of 127.
Text 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) MT Engagement Diary
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKMIS New York telegram 499 to FCO (0015Z) ("Falkland Islands") [having seen Haig/Argentine proposals, sees difficulty launching British initiative in UNSC if we reject them; falls back on original view, we should buy as much time as we can and fend off recourse to SC by others] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (State Department) Falklands: US Mission UN telegram to State Department (0112Z) ("Falklands crisis: potential elements of a United Nations contribution") ["informal note" from Perez de Cuellar] [declassified 2001]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: BDS Washington signal to MODUK (0111Z) ("Falkland Islands: US Assistance") [Defence Attaché conversation with Senator Tower - Britain should formulate list of assistance sought when Haig fails; MT copy] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (State Department) Falklands: USE Buenos Aires telegram to Haig (0252Z) ("Message for Foreign Minister Costa Mendez") [asks for instructions] [declassified 2001]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (State Department) Falklands: Haig message to Costa Mendez (0400Z) ("Letter to Costa Mendez") [London's reaction disappointed "but not closing the door"] [declassified 2001]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: UKE Washington telegram 1358 to FCO (0430Z) ("Falkland Islands") [Argentinians talking up latest proposals] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: Haig letter to Argentine Foreign Minister Costa Mendez (0400Z) (British reactions to the paper developed in Buenos Aires) [published 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Haig message to Pym (0445Z) (Argentine text) [Haig requests that MT and Pym identify specific problems with text of Argentine compromise position, and that Pym travels to Washington] [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Reagan Library) Falklands: Haig message for Pym (0445Z) (Falklands Crisis: Argentine Position) [published 2015]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Press Office bulletin No.114 (Falklands - ICRC) [Argentina has refused ICRC "request to send a delegation to the Falkland Islands to provide traditional humanitarian assistance"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Press Office bulletin No.115 ("Falkland Islands - Ships Taken Up From Trade") [list] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: Press Office bulletin No.117 ("Falkland Islands") [Pym parliamentary answers on UN, evacuation of Islanders] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Ingham MSS) Press Office: No.10 note to Press Officers ("OAS and the Rio Treaty") ["Member states of the Rio Treaty cannot be obliged to take military action on behalf of another member state"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Media: Press Digest for MT (Falklands- Treatment, Argentina, US, Military, Economic) ["The Sun suggested Cecil Parkinson warns that the Government will almost certainly fall from power if it backs down/Mail says Reagan's telephone call to you ... produced vigorous championing of our cause"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Australia: UKHC Canberra telegram 167 to FCO (0604Z) ("Australian Government: Ministerial Resignations") [resignations of health, business ministers] [declassified Dec 2014]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO Situation Report (0630Z) (Falkland Islands: Haig Initiative, Argentine Action, Andean Pact Countries, Overflights of Portuguese Territory) [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Note circulated to members of Chiefs of Staff Committee for 25th Meeting/82 of COS(I) - COS(Misc) 144/742/1 ("Presentation to OD(SA)") [briefing for War Cabinet - outline of timing and military options] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: SCDS briefing for CDS (0900Z) ("COS Committee Meeting at 1000 Hrs Tuesday 20 April 1982") [intelligence summary - "no record of Sat Photo Int in last 24 hrs"; OD(SA) debrief] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Minutes of MOD Chiefs of Staff Committee - COS 25th Meeting/82 (0900Z) (Operation Corporate, Intelligence, Own Forces, Public Relations, Decisions Required, Operation Sutton) [full text declassified Aug 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Minutes of MOD Chiefs of Staff Committee - COS 25th Meeting/82 (0900Z) (Operation Corporate, Intelligence, Own Forces, Public Relations, Decisions Required, Operation Sutton) [declassified 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: DSECCOS minute (0900Z) ("Debrief of actions arising from Chiefs of Staff meeting 25/82") [prepare for 21 Apr COS timetable of military options for Operation Sutton and for enforcing TEZ] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO notes of 25th Meeting/82 of Chiefs of Staff Committee (0900Z) (Operation Corporate, Intelligence, Own Forces, Public Relations, Decisions Required, Operation Sutton) [discussion of CINCFLEET's plan] [declassified Dcr 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Trivial Archive (TNA) Falklands: MOD note for Chiefs of Staff Committee COS 25th Meeting/82 (0900Z) (seating plan) [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: ACDS(OPS) minute to SECCOS and others ("Proposed presentation to OD(SA)") [draft for 22 April in COBR] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: SECCOS minute to CDS ("Op Corporate Briefing to Ministers") [Cabinet Office suggest limited attendees; "larger attendance would be unwelcome to the PM"] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Nott PS minute to Chief Air Staff ("Operation Corporate - Vulcans") [agrees requirement for Vulcan support during Corporate, but no long-term decision; take care not to suggest Vulcans have been 'reprieved'] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Nott PS letter to Pym PS ("Rules of Engagement for SSNs") [clearing up confusion; distinction between catalogue of ROEs issued prior to any operation, approving specific set of rules selected for implementation and approving of the operation itself] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: CDS PSO minute to CNS and other Chiefs ("Operation Corporate - High Seas Rules of Engagement") [to be brought into operation ASAP following OD(SA) decision last night] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: ACDS(OPS) minute to ACNDS(O) and others ("Special Forces - Meeting 21 April") [agenda, including Stinger] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) Falklands: DCDS(I) minute to CDS and other Chiefs ("Falkland Islands") [you asked about ability of Argentine to fly helicopters from mainland as blockade runners] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: MODUK signal to CTF317 (0922Z) ("Operation Paraquet") ["political needs of the present situation would best be served by a quick clean operation with maximum prisoners and minimum dead"] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO telegram 76 to UKE Brasilia (0935Z) ("Victor reconnaissance flights") [warning that "very remote" chance a plane may need to divert to Brazil] [declassified Dcr 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Omand minute for Ian McDonald ("PR Facilities for Operation Paraquet") [if not possible to announce first to Parliament, make "short factual announcement ... flat in tone and factual in content"] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Nott PS minute to Ian McDonald ("PR Facilities for Operation Paraquet") [agrees; "a short factual announcement ... immediately it is possible to make it .... flat in tone and factual in content"] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Omand letter to Pym PS ("Rules of Engagement for SSNs") ["clearing up any misunderstandings"; distinction between catalogue of ROEs and specific selections therefrom] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Omand letter to Pym PS ("Rules of Engagement for SSNs") ["clearing up any misunderstandings"; distinction between catalogue of ROEs and specific selections therefrom - FCO top copy with Weston comment: "plenty of fudge here", but FCO decides not to pursue further] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Trenchard personal minute for Nott ("The Falklands") ["if there is to be a military solution it has to be achieved pretty quickly from the time the Fleet arrives ... it is a feasible objective to achieve panic and surrender ... quickly and without a bloody battle"] [declassified Oct 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) Falklands: SCDS briefing for CDS (1100Z) ("OD(SA)(82) meeting at 1200 hrs Tuesday 20 April 1982") [topics] [declassified Spt 2017]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (Thatcher MSS) Falklands: MT letter to Lord Wrenbury (thanks for message of support) ["The last two weeks have been a long hard haul, as hopes for a peaceful solution rise and fall like the tide"] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: No.10 minute for MT ("Falkland Islands") [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO background note ("Falklands: UN as Temporary Administering Authority") [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Pym PS letter to No.10 ("Falkland Islands: Message from Haig") [Pym strongly inclined to accept Haig's invitation to Washington as best step next] [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: FCO minute to No.10 ("Falkland Islands: Government Savings Bank") [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Energy: Cabinet Office briefing for MT ("An Eighth Round of Offshore Licensing") [timing of preliminary announcement & other outstanding issues] [declassified Aug 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: Coles note for MT (Falklands: the history of negotiations) [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Falklands: President Lopez Portillo of Mexico message to MT (Argentine invasion of the Falklands) [Lopez Portillo condemns use of force, but supports Argentine claim to Falklands] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) Falklands: President Lopez-Portillo of Mexico letter to MT (The Falklands crisis: Mexican support for the UN Resolution) [declassified Dec 2012]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (Thatcher MSS) Aid: President Nyerere of Tanzania letter to MT (International Development Agency and the World Bank) [asks UK to use influence to encourage other nations to donate to IDA] [released 2013]
PDF 82 Apr 20 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) Royal family: Northern Ireland Office letter to No.10 ("Royal Visit") [Queen Mother: programme; security] [declassified Aug 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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