Argentina, U.K. step up military preparations

Press, 16 April 1982, Page 1

Argentina, U.K. step up military preparations

NZPA-Reuter

New York

Argentina and Britain intensified military preparations yesterday as the United States Secretary of State, Mr Alexander Haig, returned to Buenos Aires in another effort to avert a war over the Falkland Islands.

Mr Haig said in Washington that he had developed new ideas for resolving the dispute, but there was no outward indication that either side was willing to compromise on the basic issues. In London, the British Prime Minister (Mrs Thatcher) bolstered her strong stance on the crisis when she received overwhelming declarations of support at an emergency session of Parliament. Reaffirming Britain’s intention of regaining control of the Falklands, Mrs Thatcher said Britian was prepared to attack Argentinian ships if they tried to break Britain’s submarine blockade of the islands. But at the same time she said Britain sought a peaceful withdrawal of Argentinian forces. Should Argentinian warships try to enter the 200nautical mile blockade zone, she said, “We shall take that as the clearest evidence that the search for a peaceful solution has been abandoned." Mrs Thatcher won cheers from her Conservative Parly supporters and renewed backing from the dominant faction of the opposition Labour Party in the debate. The leader of the Labour

Party (Mr Foot) said the dispatch of the naval task force. ’ due to arrive in the South Atlantic early next week, was vital to persuade Argentina to take part in peace talks. “If there were no task force. I do not 'believe there would have been any prospects of negotiations with tne junta,” he said. But in Buenos Aires, the head of Argentina's military junta. General Leopoldo Galtieri, said that Argentina’s claim to sovereignty over the islands was unrenouncable. In an address to the nation. General Galtieri said Argentina remained committed to ending “one of the last chapters of colonial history of the continent.” The Argentinian Coast Guard said yesterday that two of iis gunboats had run the British blockade of the Falklands and were patrolling the coastline of the islands. Captain Victor Badini said that the two small vessels, each carrying a crew of 30, crossed from the mainland to the islands on Tuesday. The report was the first assertion of Argentinian naval activity in the zone since the British blockade took effect on Monday. There was no indication of change in status of the Ar-

gentinian Navy. The 31 warships were reported tied up at the Puerto Belgrano naval base about 430 miles south of Buenos Aires on Monday and readv to sail Britain yesterday' took steps to. reinforce its naval task force heading for the Falklands, recommissioning an assault ship and chartering a big container vessel to ferry out more combat planes. The Argentinian Government had outlined a fivepoint plan as a basis for a negotiated settlement of the Falklands dispute with Britain, said the newspaper “La Razon" yesterday. “La Razon." which often reflects the view of the high Army command, said the Argentinian peace plan was based on the following points; The archipeldgb must have an Argentinian governor; the Argentinian flag must be kept flying; Argentinian sovereignty is not negotiable; the islanders will enjoy the same rights and obligations whether they are of British descent or came from the mainland (Argentina); and the return of the British' fleet to base and withdrawal of the Argen r tinian forces from the islands. Further reports, page 8