OR 272318Z JUN 82
CONFIDENTIAL
FM CIVIL COMMISSIONER
TO RBDWDFA/FCO LONDON
INFO RBDWC/MOD UK
BT
CONFIDENTIAL
SIC 19F
plane carry
enter an
Нив PF and an
afulive of Dap
Termitaña fele
AKG 025/1
FOLLIVER
263WM). 57
ZY JUNIEL
---
כן !!
MOD ATTN (DSII)
TELEGRAM NO 03.
RETURN TO STANLEY.
PA
Vars
(1) STANLEY AND ITS INHABITANTS SHOW THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE LAST
THREE MONTHS. THEY ARE BEGINNING TO TIDY UP AND PERK UP BUT
THEY STILL HAVE A DAZED DISBELIEF THAT IT HAS ALL HAPPENED AND IS
NOW OVER. FEW HAVE ADDRESSED THEIR MINDS TO THE FUTURE. THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY TASKS MECHANICALLY, CONTENT TO BE ALIVE. THEY
CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THERE WERE SO FEW CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. TALES OF LUCKLY ESCAPES ARE LEGION. A FEW WILL WANT A WITCH-HUNT BUT I HAVE HEARD OF MORE HEROES THAN COLLABORATORS. THE ISLANDERS ARE UNIVERSAL IN THEIR PRAISE OF MRS THATCHER AND IN THEIR CONDEMNATION OF THE FILTHY HABITS OF THE ARGENTINE SOLDIERY. (2) A FULL INVENTORY OF DAMAGE TO HOUSING IN STANLEY IS UNDER PREPARATION BUT A PRELIMINARY COUNT INDICATES AT LEAST 14 DESTROYED,
OVER 30 BADLY DAMAGED AND OVER 60 SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. MINEFIELDS
AROUND STANLEY ARE A SERIOUS HAZARD AND WILL TAKE MONTHS TO CLEAR.
I HAVE NOT YET TRAVELLED OUT OF STANLEY BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT
HOUSING DAMAGE WAS SEVERE AT GOOSE GREEN, FOX BAY, AND PORT HOWARD.
(3) I HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH GENERAL MOORE A COMBINED CIVIL AND
MILITARY REHABILITATION COMMITTEE AND ARRANGED THE FIRST MEETING FOR 30 JUNE. I HAVE CALLED A JOUNT COUNCILS MEETING FOR 29 JUNE. (4) GENERAL MOORE AND I ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT THAT THE TOP PRIORITY
IS TO RESTORE THE TOWN TO NORMALITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESTORED TO MOST
PARTS OF THE TOWN. THE MILITARY HAVE VACATED MOST OF GOVERNMENT
HOUSE AND ARE VACATING PART OF PWD OFFICES.
(5) AFTER DISCUSSION WITH HAROLD ROWLANDS AND HEADS OF FIG
· DEPARTMENTS WE CONSIDER PRIORITIES SHOULD BE:
(A) TO REDUCE FURTHER THE NUMBER OF TROOPS
(B) TO EXPEDITE THE SHIPMENT OF PREFABRICATED HOUSING UNITS
FROM THE UK
(C) TO FILL OUR FULL COMPLEMENT OF FIG STAFF
(D) TO REOPEN THE SCHOOLS »
(E) TO RECRUIT EXTRA STAFF FROM UK FOR PWD FOR RECONSTRUCTION WORK
(F) TO ORDER REPLACEMENT AIRCRAFT AND HANGARS FOR FIGAS
(G) TO ORDER BASIC BUILDING MATERIALS FOR PWD
(6) TROOPS: RELATIONS WITH THE ISLANDERS ARE EXCELLENT BUT THE SHEERS WEIGHT OF NUMBERS IS BOUND IN TIME TO OVERCOME THE EUPHORIA OF LIBERATION FROM THE ARGENTINES. THE IMMEDIATE AIM MUST BE TO HOUSE ALL THE TROOPS OUTSIDE STANLEY ITSELF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND, IN THE LONGER TERM, THE REDUCE THE GARRISON TO THE MINIMUM
THAT SECURITY DEMANDS.
CONFIDENTIAL
/(?)
582916
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.