TNAG-1218-FCO40-1523-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1983 — Page 149

REBURIAL OF ARGENTINE DEAD

36. All Argentine bodies on the Falklands have now been individually buried according to Roman Catholic rites, in a specially constructed cemetery at Darwin. The provisions of the Geneva Conventions have been and will continue to be strictly complied with.

REPATRIATION OF ARGENTINE DEAD

37. Since July we have made clear to the Argentines on a number of occasions through the International Committee of the Red Cross that we would be prepared to facilitate repatriation of their dead, since we believe that is what a number of their next of kin want. Our offer is still open even after the recent reburials.

VISIT BY ARGENTINE GROUP TO ARGENTINE WAR GRAVES IN FALKLANDS

38. We have not refused permission for any Argentine group to visit the graves of Argentine war dead in the Falkland Islands: no application for permission has been received.

[IF PRESSED: Consideration of any such approach would have to take account of circumstances at the time, and would be helped if relations between the two countries were more normal, and in particular if the Argentines had declared a cessation of

hostilities. There is no obligation to permit such visits under the Geneva Conventions].

VISIT TO BRITAIN BY RELATIVES OF MISSING ARGENTINE SERVICEMEN

39. We are aware of press reports that a group of relatives of Argentine servicemen missing since the Falklands conflict plan to visit France, Italy and Spain in search of information about their fate. We have received no application for visas for them to visit Britain.

ARGENTINE POWs/SURVIVORS OF THE 'GENERAL BELGRANO' ALLEGEDLY HELD IN FALKLANDS

The last ones

40. We are holding no Argentine prisoners of war. were repatriated to Argentina on 14 July 1982. We kept the International Committee of the Red Cross fully informed at all times, and have scrupulously complied with the relevant Geneva Conventions.

REHABILITATION

41.

Good progress has been made with the work of rehabilitation. Essential services have been restored. Fuel, building materials and a wide range of equipment have been shipped to the Islands. The rate of progress should accelerate now that further supplies, plant, new housing and replacement aircraft for the internal air service have started to arrive.