‘Clouds Over the Falklands’

I hope you will allow me to comment on your editorial “Clouds Over The Falklands” (March 15).

First, you refer to the current Fire Focus exercise as an “unnecessary provocation.” Fire Focus is in fact a routine exercise to test the reinforcement capability of the recently completed Mount Pleasant Airport. If the British government is to keep troop levels in the islands at a minimum, the need, especially in view of recent experience, is to be satisfied that rapid reinforcement is feasible. Already, in contrast to your description of its strength as “excessive” and “menacing,” the current garrison has actually been greatly reduced since 1982.

Second, you say that there has been “no British initiative” in recent years to foster better relations with Argentina. This is not true. Financial restrictions imposed by Britain were lifted five and a half years ago: Yet the Argentine authorities continue to implement the agreement only partially, and still maintain discriminatory restrictions on British firms in Argentina.

In 1983, Britain proposed the resumption of air links between the two countries, but there was no Argentine response. In 1985, the British government lifted restrictions on imports from Argentina, and continues to hope that this move will be reciprocated.

As for the 150 mile fishing zone, which came into operation just over a year ago, the British foreign secretary wrote to the Argentine foreign minister in 1986 to propose that Britain and Argentina should cooperate in finding ways of dealing with the problem of protecting fish stocks from overfishing by third countries. A number of bilateral exchanges on this subject have since taken place with the help of the U.S. Administration.

Lastly, on the issue of sovereignty, the reality is that the Argentine invasion was a traumatic experience for the Falkland Islanders and it will be many years before they forget that aggression. Continued Argentine insistance on discussing nothing which does not include the issue of sovereignty only works against the restoration of more normal bilateral relations and the rebuilding of confidence between the United Kingdom and Argentina.

The British government meanwhile remains committed to upholding the Islanders’ right to live in peace and security under a government of their own choosing. I always thought that that was what democracy was all about.

DONALD F. BALLENTYNE

British Consul-General

Los Angeles