The Secret Plan to Transfer Falkland Islands Sovereignty: A British Perspective

To fully understand the complexity and nuances surrounding the Falkland Islands dispute, it is crucial to delve into the secret plans put forward by the British government in 1968. This dossier reveals an implicit acknowledgment that the Falkland Islands were no longer of significant strategic or commercial value to the United Kingdom, and that they posed a potential national security issue. The details of these negotiations, held in secrecy, shed light on the evolving perspectives of the British government towards the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Secret Negotiations and Diplomatic Strategies

Between 1966 and 1968, the UK government engaged in intense and confidential negotiations with Argentina to transfer sovereignty of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) to Argentina. These negotiations remain significant in understanding the shifting dynamics of international relations and sovereignty disputes. A key document, signed in 1968, stated that the UK would recognize Argentina's sovereignty over the islands with due consideration for the interests of the island’s population. This was a recognition that the Falkland Islands did not hold the same strategic and commercial value for the UK as they once did.

During the Cabinet meeting of 24 September 1968, the British ministers privately noted that the islands were 'no longer of any strategic or commercial value to us' and that the UK would soon be required to provide 'budgetary aid' to the territory. The document further highlighted the threat of military conflict with Argentina, noting that 'we can no longer defend the Falkland Islands except by a force ridiculously large in relation to the population and our resources.'

Historical Context and Diplomatic Relations

The issue of the Falkland Islands has a long and complicated history. In 1833, the UK forced the removal of the Argentine flag from the Falklands, an act that Argentina sees as illegal and an act of annexation. The UK government has maintained a de facto claim to the islands ever since. However, even in the minds of the British officials, the question of sovereignty was not entirely settled.

In 1910, Gerald Spicer, the head of the Foreign Office's American department, noted that 'it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the Argentine government's attitude is not altogether unjustified and that our action has been somewhat high-handed'. This view echoes the tensions that have persisted since the UK's reinforcement of its presence in the Falklands.

UN Resolution and Decolonization Efforts

During the de-colonization period after the Second World War, increasing international pressure was placed on both the UK and Argentine governments to resolve the issue. In 1965, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2065 XX, urging both countries to negotiate the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands for a peaceful resolution. The resolution recognized earlier efforts under Resolution 1514 XV, which called for an end to colonialism, a stance that includes the case of the Falkland Islands. Furthermore, the resolution acknowledged the interests of the Falkland Islands' population.

British Government’s Secret Memorandum of Understanding

In January 1966, Michael Stewart became the first UK foreign secretary to visit Buenos Aires and initiated a series of secret negotiations. The following year in March 1967, globalization his successor, George Brown, informed the Argentine ambassador that the UK 'would be willing to cede sovereignty to Argentina provided that the change were acceptable to the Islanders and subject to certain conditions'. These conditions would have indisputably required the agreement and consent of the Falkland Island's population, reflecting the complex legal and ethical considerations in international relations.

The 1968 draft Memorandum of Understanding articulated the UK's willingness to transfer sovereignty to Argentina, conditional on the inhabitants' agreement and adherence to certain terms. This document but highlighted the diminishing value of the Falkland Islands to the UK and the increasing tension with Argentina over the territory.

These secret negotiations and the ongoing diplomatic discussions illustrate the changing dynamics between the UK and Argentina and the complex interplay of economic, strategic, and diplomatic factors in territorial disputes. Understanding the historical context and the secret negotiations provides insight into the potential outcomes and implications of such sovereignty transfers in modern international relations.