TNAG-1218-FCO40-1523-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1983 — Page 82

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Possible Solutions

5.

We must take one step at a time. First, the Islanders must recover fully from their experience and there must be a fundamental change of heart by Argentina. Only then will it be realistic to work substantively on future options for the

Falkland Islands. As the Prime Minister has said, it is

obviously premature for either the Islanders or ourselves to

speculate now about specific policies.

6.

The Prime Minister has also made it very clear that the wishes of the Islanders are paramount. We take the Islanders' wishes to be their expression of where they judge their

interests to lie.

7.

Of the various formulae canvassed for international/

multilateral solutions, one must address oneself first to the

question of how they could reassure the Islanders against further Argentine aggression. Suggestions for tripartite or multilateral arrangements could only work with full Argentine

cooperation. It is not practical to pursue them in the light of

current Argentine attitudes.

Multilateral Initiatives

8.

As the Prime Minister said in winding up the Commons

Debate on the Franks Report on 26 January, it would be premature

for either the Islanders or ourselves to speculate, as has been done both in the House and in the media, about specific policies

for the long-term future.

UN Trusteeship

9.

This would only work satisfactorily with full Argentine

cooperation. It would have to be acceptable to the Islanders.

The process of consultation with the Islanders about their

future is still in its early stages and it would be wrong to

rush them. In the longer term, in considering such ideas as UN

Trusteeship (etc) the Islanders would naturally look in the

first place for reassurance against further Argentine

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