TNAG-1144-FCO40-1424-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 101

UP THE POTENTIALLY STARK CHOICE BETWEEN RECOVERY OF THE MAL-

VINAS AND PRESERVATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE NATION AS A

WHOLE. IN CONTRAST TO THE MOTHERS APPEARING ON TELEVISON

PATRIOTICALLY OFFERING THEIR SONS AS CANNON-FODDER, I HAVE REC- EIVED FIRST HAND REPORTS OF HEAVY PASSENGER AIR TRAFFIC NORTHWARDS OUT OF THE PROSPECTIVE BATTLE-ZONE. THERE IS A GROWING SENSE OF INEVITABILITY ABOUT THE COURSE OF EVENTS. GALTIERI AND THE JUNTA HAVE EMBARKED, WITHOUT ADEQUATE THOUGHT, A VENTURE WHOSE CONSEQUENCES THEY DID NOT FORESEE AND CANNOT

CONTROL.

3. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW UNSUBSTANTIATED REPORTS OF ANITI-

BRITISH FEELING (EG TWO PEOPLE ORDERED OFF A BUS FOR SPEAKING ENGLISH), THOUGH NONE OF ANY SERIOUSNESS EXCEPT A SERIES OF TELEPHONE THREATS TO THE BRITISH EDITOR OF THE BUENOS AIRES

HERALD AND HIS FAMILY WHO HAVE NOW MOVED OVER TO URUGUAY.

4. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT OUR APPEAL TO U.K. CS TO LEAVE

HAS BEEN WIDELY HEEDED BUT WE ARE MOUNTING A RE-REGISTRATION

CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK TO TRY TO ESTABLISH MORE PRECISELY THE

POTENTIAL SIZE OF ANY EVACUATION PROGRAMME. AN APPROPRIATE

BBC WORLD SERVICE MESSAGE WOULD BE HELPFUL.

5. STAFF ARE IN GOOD HEARTH BUT THERE WAS A WAVE OF APPRE-

HENSION WHEN SECURITY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES CALLED ON SOME

OF OUR DIRVERS' HOMES LAST WEEK, ALLEGEDLY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PROTECTION. PAST SECURITY SERVICE EXCESSES DO NOT ENCOURAGE

CONFIDENCE IN THIS RESPECT.

JOY. 19.4.

UNQUOTE

LEE

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SENT AT RECD AT 201448Z TWPM

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