White flags over Port Stanley
At 10:15 pm (BST) on the night of 14 June 1982, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher announced to the House of Commons that negotiations had begun for the surrender of the Argentine invasion force in the Falkland Islands, ending the Falklands War. Her statement noted that "they are reported to be flying white flags over Port Stanley", the capital of the Falklands. This was based on an erroneous report from a front-line unit; in fact, no white flags are known to have been flown, though Argentine resistance ended, and a ceasefire was in place. The surrender was finalised by 1:30 am BST on 15 June. Thatcher's statement was welcomed from all sides in the House, and she left to join celebrating crowds in Downing Street. She later described the statement as "perhaps the proudest moment of my life".
Background
White flags
Major Bill Dawson, the
The Falkland Islanders in Port Stanley always insisted they had seen no white flags. Dawson stated in 2002 that the report of white flags was probably a mistake as he could find no one from A Company that admitted to making the initial report. Dawson considered that "it was probably someone's washing hanging on a clothes line".[3] The commander of 3 Commando Brigade, Brigadier Julian Thompson, noted that the brigade's reconnaissance unit heard the message "white flags over Stanley" over the radio, but on looking at Port Stanley through their binoculars could see nothing that corroborated the report. A marine reported a white object, but he stated that "it looks more like someone's knickers on the line".[5] Lieutenant Colonel David Chaundler of the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which led the advance into Stanley recalled seeing no white flags and thought that Dawson was speaking metaphorically.[6]
Thatcher's statement
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had spent 13 June at the
The
After the vote, at around 10:15 pm (6:15 pm Falklands time), Thatcher raised a point of order to the speaker, George Thomas, asking to provide information to the House on the Falklands War. Thomas granted her permission, and she made the following statement:[11][12][13]
After successful attacks last night, General Moore decided to press forward. The Argentines retreated. Our forces reached the outskirts of Port Stanley. Large numbers of Argentine soldiers threw down their weapons. They are reported to be flying white flags over Port Stanley. Our troops have been ordered not to fire except in self-defence. Talks are now in progress between General Menendez and our Deputy Commander, Brigadier Waters, about the surrender of the Argentine forces on East and West Falkland. I shall report further to the House tomorrow.
.jpg)
The statement was followed by cries of hear, hear, the traditional expression of acclamation, from across the House. The Leader of the Opposition, the Labour Party's Michael Foot, spoke to thank Thatcher for sharing the news and to welcome "an end to the bloodshed". He stated that there would be "widespread, genuine rejoicing", echoing a remark made by Thatcher in April 1982 following the successful liberation of South Georgia by British forces. Foot acknowledged that he had disagreements with Thatcher on some issues, including the origin of the war, but hoped that the House could work to "transform what has occurred into benefits for our country as a whole" and his party would work towards this.[12]
Liberal Party leader David Steel also spoke to say that the whole House should rejoice at the news. The deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party, David Owen, offered his congratulations and his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.[12] Thatcher had requested the attendance of the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, civil servant Antony Acland, and he had rushed to the chamber from a dinner at the Spanish embassy. He watched the statement from the Officials' Box alongside Admiral Terence Lewin and Cabinet Secretary Robert Armstrong.[14]
After the responses to the statement were concluded, Foot stated that some business remained scheduled for the day but that he thought the House should now
Upon leaving the House, Thatcher returned to her official residence at Downing Street, where she mingled with a crowd of supporters singing "Rule, Britannia!". At this point, she stated to reporters, "we knew what we had to do and we went about it and did it. Great Britain is great again."[8]
Subsequent events
In the Falklands, a ceasefire came into effect after it became clear to the Argentine command that there was nothing to be gained from continuing the fight. General Moore entered Port Stanley at 9:30 pm on 14 June (1.30 am on 15 June in BST) to sign the official
References
- Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "The British Army and the Falklands War". National Army Museum. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ a b Watts, Patrick (12 November 2002). "White flags over Stanley". MercoPress. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Marston 2015, pp. 62–63.
- ^ Thompson 1992, p. 156.
- ^ "'Once we'd taken the ridge, we saw the enemy sloping off'". The Times. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ O'Sullivan 2006, p. 160.
- ^ a b Robinson 2013, p. 231.
- ^ "Sitting of 14 June 1982 (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Industrial Training (1982)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 14 June 1982.
- ^ "HC Stmnt: [Falkland Islands]". Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 14 June 1982. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Falkland Islands (1982)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 14 June 1982.
- ^ Hastings & Jenkins 1983, p. 311.
- ^ Dale 2012, p. 212.
- ^ "Paper Industry Energy Costs (1982)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 14 June 1982.
- ^ Campbell 2000, p. 153; Phillips 2011, p. 18.
- ^ British-Argentine Relations 1991, p. 17; Ferguson & Pearce 1988, p. 73.
Works cited
- British-Argentine Relations: A Joint Report. ISBN 978-0-905031-38-5.
- ISBN 978-0-224-06156-8.
- ISBN 978-1-84954-341-5.
- Ferguson, James; Pearce, Jenny (1988). The Thatcher Years: Britain and Latin America. Latin America Bureau. ISBN 978-0-906156-38-4.
- ISBN 978-0-7181-2228-7.
- Marston, Robert (2015). Harrier Boys Volume 1: From the Cold War through the Falklands, 1969–1990. Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1-910690-82-6.
- ISBN 978-1-59698-016-7.
- Phillips, Russell (2011). A Damn Close-Run Thing: A Brief History of the Falklands War. Shilka Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4661-0547-8.
- ISBN 978-0-85750-000-7.
- Thompson, Julian (1992). No Picnic: 3 Commando Brigade in the South Atlantic, 1982. Casemate Publishers. ISBN 978-0-85052-304-1.
.jpg)
