A SL. r Catty, c.,Cs b

---

30 April Policy PRIME

ON

ARGENTINA

attached

As

you

know,

he

and

I

any

and

up,

is

of

Hugh

or

to

however

Ray

Whitney

highest

judge the

you

are

with

is self-explanatory.

possible

regard

whether

Ray's

obvious

points:

trying

imagination,

an

direct

it is not to

FALKLANDS

for

Ray

(as

both

Thomas).

stress

Office,

Argentina; backs

the

to what

stretch

Foreign

I have for

do

THE

from

qualified

I can

to you

AND

letter

have

I am not All

Unit

MINISTER

ADVICE

The

1982

to

in

extensive

petty

hostile

the

Ray

he

"appeaser";

in his nature

indulge

do;

concern is

he

has

reception,

if he

is

by

loyal

nature,

worked

in

experience

to criticise it

totally

is not

personal

intrigue;

is justified.

people

in his

believes

the

of

behind

nature

that

by

to

it

their speak

is

necessary.

Add

to

quite

all

argued

My

that,

extensive

supporter

you

this

of

despite

military

the

the case

his

Foreign

service,

mandarinate.

I seem

Indeed,

for reform,

Cabinet

Office to

he

Office

background

remember)

has

he

himself

(and is no

strongly

reconstruction

etc,

as

know.

feeling

in order may

be

is

that

you

to see whether

missing

from

the

should

have

a long

he has points advice

you

are

enough

to make

chat

which

with

him

are valid

and

getting

A

616 6L c s.,/ta ^. .

JOHN

SL.

r

Catty,c.,Cs

HOSKYNS

ct

kt;AA

b

r

t

RAY WHITNEY,

HOUSE

OF

LONDON

O.B.E.

M.P.

COMMONS SWIA

PERSONAL

OAA

30th

April

1982

John Hoskvns, Esq., 10, Downing Street, London SVI1.

I write this letter with the greatest reluctance could easily appear to be peevish or even self-seeking. I am seriously worried that the Prime Minister has an

appreciation

of the real

am right, could have enemy, as we used to

situation

very serious he taught!

in Argentina implications.

as

it But inaccurate

- which, Know

if I

your

My misgivings arise principally from some of the things the Prime Minister said when we happened to have a drink together one evening last week. It was not an occasion for a serious exchange but some of her remarks seemed to be based on what I believe to be a partial and inadequate assessment of the current position in Argentina. It happened that the Following day I was discussing Argentina with Hugh Thomas and found him making the points I had heard the night before. He then made it clear that the Prime Minister's views were likely to reflect his own briefing. It seemed to me that his assessment was based, to a significant extent, on a book written over ten years ago by an American friend of mine, about the origins of the Argentine mil l arv. app_ens 0 e only one factor in a complex situation and one very easy to get out of proportion.

None

I wonder what Hugh is telling of us can be experts on every

I recognise that the alternative and additional the Foreign Office. I am

her after country.

his

visit

to

China?

Prime Minister feels the need for briefing to that provided by sure that is necessary - as it is

A

John 30th

Hoskyns, Esq., April 1982

necessary for her to have second opinions on what is put forward by all the other major Departments of State. Indeed, one of the main objectives of the proposals I submitted to her some time ago on a strengthened and restructured Cabinet Office was precisely to meet this requirement. I should be most grateful for any advice you may have (on your last day in your present job!) on how it would be best to nlav this. Hugh is, I believe, well aware of my concern. I greatly esteem him as an historian and value him as a friend - one I should hate very much to lose. But the most important thing must surely be to ensure that the Prime Minister is getting the best possible advice.

Bonne

You did chance,

a great job and I have much as I believe those wets in

enjoyed our the Foreign

relationship. Office say!

C 4.4

S,