Another Great Betrayal?

The Falkland Islands, situated in the South Atlantic, just off the southern end of the South American continent, have been a British possession for many centuries. The uninhabited islands were first claimed for the United Kingdom in the 18th century.

There has been a permanent settlement on the islands since 1833, and the modern Falkland Islanders are almost entirely descended from British stock. Both the official and spoken language of the islands is English. The islanders have always considered themselves to be British, and have no wish to be anything other than that.

During the mid to late 20th century, the British Empire was breaking up. This was the result of fighting two cripplingly expensive world wars, and a general lack of interest in maintaining an expensive colonial Empire. The two world wars had bankrupted the United Kingdom, and left it eclipsed by the might of the two emerging super powers, the USA and the Soviet Union.

By 1981, most of the colonial possessions had been granted independence, beginning with India in 1948. As the power of the United Kingdom waned, and its role as a military power diminished, its armed forces were greatly reduced in size. This reduction in the nations fighting strength, had in particular, a very severe impact on the Royal Navy's ability to protect the UK's most remote possessions.

Argentina has always maintained a spurious claim over the Falkland Islands, based on nothing more than the geographical proximity of the islands to the Argentine mainland. In fact, Argentina also lays claim to the Falkland Island dependencies of South Georgia, the South Sandwich islands and the British Antarctic Territory. It is akin to the United Kingdom claiming the territory of continental Europe because of its proximity to the UK!

Additionally, Argentina has always been an unstable country, and has had to endure a succession of corrupt military dictatorships. Such was the case in 1982. At that time, the Argentine economy was in tatters, and the people suffering under an oppressive and brutal military regime.

Since at least 1981, the military junta in Argentina had been considering a military adventure in the Falkland Islands, as a means of diverting the peoples attention away from the crumbling economy. 

During the preceeding decade, the British government had been giving out many tacit signals to the Argentines, indicating that they were more than willing to cede the islands to Argentina. However, in no way were the people of the islands having anything to do with that notion, regardless of the bribes and incentives offered to them by the British Government.

It is symptomatic of the British Governments cynical attitude to its citizens overseas, that it considered it fully acceptable, to cede the Falkland Islands and its people, to an odious and brutal foreign military dictatorship. This however should not be a surprise, given the obsession with cost and profit which was all too prevalent under the Conservative Thatcher Government.

Perhaps the strongest signal given to Argentina, was the fact that the Royal Navy's ice patrol ship, Endurance, was withdrawn from service under John Nott's notorious 1981 Defence Review. This action contributed to the Argentine belief that Britain was unwilling and unable to defend her possessions in the South Atlantic. At the same time, the British Antarctic survey announced budget cuts that would force closure of the Grytviken base on South Georgia.

On April 2nd 1982, a massive invasion of the Islands by Argentine forces took place. The 80 Royal Marines and local volunteer force were overpowered after courageous resistance and the Islands were placed under Argentinian rule. A combined British Task Force was despatched on April 3rd, the first troops landing at San Carlos Bay on May 21st. By June 14th, the Argentine invaders had been overcome after fierce sea, land and air battles. 12,000 troops surrendered. 258 Britons, including three Falkland Islands civilians, lost their lives.

One effect of the Falklands war was the revival of a sense of pride in being British. The English people in particular had, since the break up of Empire and the influx of huge numbers of third world immigrants into the country, lost all sense of a national identity. This actually reached a point where the English flag, the cross of St. George, was seen by the politically correct circles which had gained control of local authorities, and indeed the national government, as a racist symbol!

The Falklands war was a turning point for the English, who once again began to feel a pride in their nation and in their flag, regardless of the poisonous doctrines of the politically correct left wing liberals.

To date, the United Kingdom maintains a strong military presence on the Falkland Islands, which is enough to deter any further Argentine military adventures. However, the islanders must remain ever vigilant, as British Governments can never be relied upon to protect their kith and kin, especially if they can sell them down the river for diplomatic or fiscal ends.

This in fact is happening currently in Gibraltar, another erstwhile British colony, this time claimed by Spain, a nation who were not exactly unfriendly towards Argentina and its invasion of the Falkland Islands. The Gibraltarians are being pressured by the British Govenment to accept eventual Spanish rule, something they do not accept in any way.

This Embassy fully supports the Falkland Islanders in their determination to remain British, and not be sold to a foreign power out of fiscal expediency.  

LINKS

• http://www.falklands.gov.fk/ - Falkland Island Governments Home Page.

• http://www.tourism.org.fk/ - Falkland Islands Tourist Board.

• http://www.falklandislands.com/ - The Official Falkland Islands Portal.

• http://falklandwool.com/islands/index.html - A Very Interesting Local Site.

• http://www.naval-history.net/NAVAL1982FALKLANDS.htm - History of the Falklands War.

• http://www.yendor.com/vanished/falklands-war.html - The Falklands War.

• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_america/falkland_islands/ - Lonely Planet Guide to the Falkland Islands.