Envoy spells out Soviet fear

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 8

Envoy spells out Soviet fear

NZPA ,’r London Britain’s Ambassador to the United States yesterday publicly voiced fears held since the beginning of the Falklands crisis by British and American authorities that the problem could lead to a greater Soviet involvement in the area.

On American television, Sir Nicholas Henderson said he had noted reports that the Soviet Union has been supplying Argentina with information about the movements of the Royal Naval task force. ,

“These are very disturbing facts. If, by chance, the Argentinians got away with what they are trying to get away with, the Soviets would say, with some justice, I suppose, that they had helped Argentina achieve this position,” he said. The Russians would then insist on “some quid pro quo, which would be some presence in the South Atlantic.”

The fear was that, with growing trade betwee Argentina and the Soviet Union, and a new deal on nuclear fuel signed since the invasion of the Falklands, the Argentinians might, if they held the Falklands, agree to provide a South Atlantic base there for the Soviet navy. Another aspect of the threat, as seen in London and Washington, was that the huge Argentinian grain harvest was now being gathered in and would soon be despatched to Russia to help meet the severe short fall in grain production there. These shipments, many of them in Soviet vessels, which would be starting soon, could be a sinister new development greatly increasing the strategic dangers of a Brit-ish-based sea blockade, he said. The British Government is well aware that none of the perils of increased Soviet involvement in the area which could arise out of the crisis have been lost on the United States Administration.