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Commentary ( The Times )

Conservatism: Hayek letter to The Times ("Holding the Falklands") [Britain justified in attack on Argentina]

Document type: Declassified documents
Source: The Times , 17 Feb 1983, p11
Editorial comments:
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 113
Themes: Conservatism, Defence (Falklands)

Holding the Falklands

From Professor F. A. Hayek, FBA

Sir, Though I can well understand that the British Government does not wish to mention this, Argentina ought perhaps to be reminded that no rule of international law would forbid to retort to another military attack on what for 150 years has been under the jurisdiction of Britain by some counter-attack on the geographical source of such bellicose action.

That might well be a more effective protection than turning the Falklands into a fortress. An aggressor has. no right to demand that hostile action be confined to the region he chooses.

Yours faithfully
F.A. HAYEK.
Urachstrasse, 27,
d-7800 Freiburg (Breisgau)
West Germany.
February 10