Letters
The Falkland Islands
Sir: As your readers are painfully aware, and as the archives will indelibly confirm, the Spectator lost its nerve over the Falklands war. I imagine that accounts for the cover showing an inane lion teetering ridiculously on a lump of rock, and for the unpleasantly snide tone of the leader col- umn (19 June). The next week you quoted, sympathetically and at considerable length, an Argentinian lady's views on the conflict.
I wonder if you will permit me to offer some of the obvious comments you so carefully refrain from making on her letter?
I. It is not too difficult to achieve a bloodless conquest when you send an over- whelming force against a token handful of Marines.
2. Our professional fighting men spent weeks in hazard under the attack of the very professional Argentinian air force, during which time that Thatcher government which 'has no respect for life' refrained from striking at the bases from which the Planes were launched.
3. The analogy she draws between people like herself and possible Argentinian emigration to the Falklands would only be valid if such emigrants were prepared, as she was, to take on the customs and even- tually the nationality of the host country; rather than, for instance, attempting to en- force their own language in education of native children, and a fundamental change in traffic regulations.
The Falkland islanders chose to remain British, despite considerable discourage- ment. This lady's grandfather chose to abandon his native land and settle in a foreign country. Had we acquiesced in the takeover she would, I am confident, have preened herself on being a citizen of a con- fident thrusting nation rather than poor old decadent Britain.
I am glad she understands she is an Argentinian. She is, in any case, stuck with it; just as you are, sir, are stuck with that failure of nerve. But in both cases I feel a decent silence would be a better reaction to being confounded than sniping.
John Christopher
La Rochelle, Rye, E. Sussex
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