Falkland Islands

Press, 7 April 1982, Page 16

Falkland Islands

Sir,—As a Briton brought up by British schools steeped in British Imperial history, my first reaction to the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands was that Britain should send a gunboat. Then I started thinking: Who raised an eyebrow when Indonesia invaded East Timor, murdering thousands? Who stood up for the inhabitants of Diego Garcia when the British and Americans took the islands over for a naval base? Who really is trying to maintain the United Nations mandate over Namibia, or really cares deeply about French radioactive fallout (not to mention the past British and American nuclear tests) poisoning Pacific Islanders? The answer is noone. Therefore, why should Britons and Argentinians die before their time in a futile war over the Falkland Islands. The sabre-rattlers in the House of Commons certainly will not get their feet wet. The Falkland Islands are not the lines of Torres Vedras defended by Wellington; let us remember the minor shooting incident at Sarajevo, an incident which triggered World War I and all problems stemming there-, from.—Yours, etc.,' R. H. FINDLAY.' April 5, 1982.