FALKLANDS DISPUTE: BRITISH POLITICAL MOOD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R001503860029-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 17, 2008
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: April 8, 1982
• Content Type: CABLE

Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP84B00049RO01503860029-3
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 001
TOR: 081324Z APR 82
00 RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
UTS3235
00 RUEHC
DE RUEHLD #7770 0981308
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
0 081308Z APR 82
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8839
INFO RUFHLL/NATO COLLECTIVE
?RUESBA/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1394
BT
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 07770
E.O. 12065: RDS-1 4/8/12 (STREATOR, E.J.) OR-M
TAGS: PEPR, PINS, UK, AR, US
SUBJECT: FALKLANDS DISPUTE: BRITISH POLITICAL MOOD
2. THE BRITISH POLITICAL SCENE HAS STEADIED, AT LEAST
FOR THE MOMENT, FOLLOWING THE TURBULENCE AFTER THE
INVASION.
3. THE TONE OF THE APRIL 7 COMMONS DEBATE WAS NOTABLY
MORE SUBDUED THAN THAT OF EVEN THE DAY BEFORE. FRANCIS
PYM, A RESPECTED AND WELL-LIKED FIGURE, GOT GOOD MARKS
FOR HIS DEBUT IN THE HOUSE AS FOREIGN SECRETARY.
OPPOSITION LEADERS WERE EASY ON HIM AND TURNED THEIR
EFFORTS TOWARD PINNING RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PRIME
MINISTER. BUT EVEN AS THE GOVERNMENT'S "MISTAKES"
WERE REHASHED, MP'S SPECULATED INCREASINGLY ABOUT
THE DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY TASKS AHEAD.
4. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE "NAVAL BLOCKADE" OF THE
FALKLANDS AND THE SECRETARY'S VISIT HAS FURTHER SHIFTED
ATTENTION IN THAT DIRECTION. DOMESTICALLY, THE BLOCKADE
HAS SATISFIED THE TORY RIGHT. WORD OF THE SECRETARY'S
VISIT WAS BROADLY WELCOMED, ALTHOUGH LABOR CONTACTS
SEE IT, IN PART, AS A U.S. EFFORT TO SAVE MARGARET
THATCHER.
5. SHE IS SAFE FOR THE MOMENT. BUT ASIDE FROM PYM, WHO
COULD REPLACE HER IF SHE STUMBLES, HER NEW MINISTERIAL
APPOINTMENTS ARE GENERALLY REGARDED AS UNINSPIRED
LOYALISTS. THERE IS SOME DISAPPOINTMENT THAT SHE CHOSE
FIRM SUPPORTERS AND DID NOT BROADEN THE GOVERNMENT'S
BASE IN THE CRISIS. BUT THAT IS VERY MUCH HER WAY.
STREATOR
END OF MESSAGE CONFIDENTIAL
DCI
INCOMING
State Dept. review completed.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP84B00049RO01503860029-3