Falklands cut-back looked at—paper

Press, 6 March 1984, Page 11

Falklands cut-back looked at —paper

tIZPA-AP ' London Britain was considering an offer to cut its troop strength in the disputed Falkland Islands as a gesture of conciliation to Argentina, the “Daily Mail” newspaper reported yesterday.

The paper said that a “specific and immediate reduction” was part of a new peace plan being drawn up by the Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, and the Defence Secretary, Mr Michael Heseltine. The “Mail” did not disclose the source of its information. The Foreign and Defence Ministries declined immediate comment on the report Britain has maintained a garrison of some 3500

soldiers, along with warships and fighter planes, in the Falklands since the end of the Anglo-Argentinian war there in June, 1982.

“Mrs Thatcher is expected to ask the Cabinet within the next few weeks whether to back the deal and authorise its immediate dispatch to (Argentine) President (Raul) Alfonsin,” the newspaper said. The troop cut-back proposal envisaged a withdrawal of engineers and some support soldiers, “no longer needed on the islands because of winter,” the paper said. In return the Government would expect a start on official talks on getting links and relations back to normal.”