TNAG-1143-FCO40-1423-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 38

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Falkland Islands

7.

The Ambassador referred to the People's Daily commentary of 18 June, which was unfriendly to Britain, and inaccurate. It was untrue that Britain had never wanted a peaceful settlement. HMG had made sincere, but unfortunately unsuccesful, efforts to achieve a peaceful outcome, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 502.

8.

Sir Percy Cradock said that the fact that Britain had not been the first to use force was never mentioned in the Chinese press. It was also inappropriate to describe the Falklands problem as a colonial one. Colonialism normally involved a subject population controlled by another power; in this sense the only colonial situation in the Falklands had existed during the recent Argentine military occupation. The People's Daily commentary and

other recent Chinese press treatment of the Falklands had not been fair to Britain. The Xinhua translation of the People's Daily article even referred to a veto by Britain of Resolution 502!

9. Zhang Wenjin said he understood Britain's position. He admitted that Britain had a definite point of view but the views of the British and Chinese Governments on this issue differed. China regretted that a full-scale war had developed over the Malvinas, He noted that even soma of Britain's West European allies differed from her on the issue of sovereignty. China was anxious that the Falklands problem should be solved to avoid the development of bitterness and hostility between Western Europe and Latin America.

10. Asked whether the People's Daily commentary represented the views of the Chinese Government, Zhang said the latter's views had been clearly expressed by official spokesmen. The People's Daily was responsible for what it printed. However, Zhang Wenjin refused to confirm that there was any differences between views that had been expressed in the Chinese press and the views of the Chinese Government.

11.

Sir Percy Cradock reiterated that Britain had done its best to secure a peaceful settlement. Zhang Wenjin said he respe the Ambassador's sincerity but China had a different opinion. The interview, which had been friendly throughout, ended with the Ambassador and the Vice Minister agreeing that there were differences in their views of the Falklands. Sir Percy Cradock

/reiterated

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