Penguin News editor
Mrs Thatcher, you have never ruled out the possibility of a return to talks with Argentina. What would those talks be about?
MT
I'm not talking about negotiations on sovereignty. These Islands are British, the people want to stay British. It is nice to have cooperation with a coastal state. We lifted the financial restrictions mutually, which was to our mutual benefit. We then said can we not lift trading restrictions, and they said no. So it is not we who are holding up these things.
Penguin News editor
So you might go back to Argentina to talk about perhaps the development of the Islands?
MT
No, we have not in fact got normal relations at the moment. But I am not negotiating with Argentina on the question of sovereignty.
Penguin News editor
The Argentines will never forget what has happened. They kept their belief of what happened in 1833 for 150 years. But do you think the British will begin to forget; to lose some interest in the place, remove some forces, until we reach the stage where the Argentinians again have a great influence here and feel bold enough to try such an episode again? Do you foresee a 1982 scenario ever developing again?
MT
They tried in 1770: we sent a Task Force. They tried in 1982: we sent a Task Force. I think what dominates the British view of things, dominates Parliament's view of things (and I am answerable to Parliament as Prime Minister) are the wishes of the Falkland Islanders. Because that is what democracy is all about. I think that view will continue to prevail. I think most people realise that to deter the Argentinians we need to keep a very substantial garrison here.
Penguin News editor
Will that garrison jeopardize your contribution to NATO? Is it serious enough for that?
MT
I think in fact NATO has probably gained from what we did in the Falkland Islands. Every nation now knows that when freedom and justice was challenged and taken away, we went to get it back.
Penguin News editor
In the long term the Falkland Islands must have some practical value. There are large resources of fish; it is possible that there is oil beneath the ocean; they have strategic value commanding a certain area of ocean, and they are also the stepping stone to the Antarctic. Does Britain have any great use for the Islands?
MT
I would have thought to all people interested in freedom and justice under a democratic system the Falkland Islands are in an important position strategically. Also, of course, they are undoubtedly in winter the gateway to the Antarctic, and in summer South Georgia is the gateway to the Antarctic. We don't know exactly what the resources are in the Antarctic, but we believe they are very considerable.
But, do you know, the Falklands have played a considerable part in British history. In 1770 when our people were turned off the Falklands for a time by the Spaniards, and we sent a task force and regained the islands. In the First World War there was a famous battle for the Falklands. In the Second, as you know, Ajax and Exeter after the Battle of the River Plate came here. Then in the Falkland Islands campaign. So there is a tremendous intertwining between the history of Britain and the history of the Falkland Islands.
Penguin News editor
On the question of development, do you believe we should declare a 100 or 150 mile economic zone in the oceans around the Falklands?
MT
We are not sure how that would appear in international law. We also have to consider the future of the Falkland Islanders themselves, and whether it would be a wise thing to do.
Penguin News editor
We have a very serious problem with communications. I think it is fair to say that the cost of travelling 8,000 miles through Ascension Island by aircraft or ship is very considerable, and it must be subsidised to a great degree. So I assume the British Government would like to see us travelling via South America again with an air link. Are efforts being made to establish an air link, and do you think it is possible?
MT
At the moment clearly it isn't possible, otherwise we would have done it. At the [end p1] moment the only way we can go is via Ascension—that is just plain straight realism. It may be that people will find another way. There is no reason why they shouldn't fly to Uruguay and then pick up a ship. But we are doing the best we can at the moment, looking at all the circumstances very realistically.
Penguin News editor
Your life has been very closely linked with the Falklands over the past months, and you must have formed impressions of the people before you came here. Have you changed those opinions since arriving in the Islands? Have you formed any new ideas, any new images of the place?
MT
No, I think those opinions have been abundantly reinforced by the people here. Whether I have been in Port Stanley, which I have enjoyed tremendously, whether I have been around the settlements, or whether I have been to the areas where the land was so bitterly fought and where I have seen the people themselves did to help our forces achieve their objective.
Penguin News editor
So how would you describe your feelings for the Falkland Islanders?
MT
Well, we are all British. We are all the same family.
Penguin News editor
Do you bring any special message for the Falkland Islanders?
MT
I think I have perhaps given many special messages in everything I have said to these gallant and courageous people.