The War Cabinet authorised Lewin to proceed. This was interpreted by the British high command as signifying that movement towards her home port by the two ships may well have been acts of subterfuge. She accused Britain's Labor government of collaborating in Pinochet's "judicial kidnap" and ignoring his past support to the United Kingdom. I know - I was Prime Minister at the time. The man who acted as the clandestine go-between for Chile and Britain during the Falklands War has spoken for the first time about helping the SAS, reporting to Thatcher – and avoiding Pinochet. . Pinochet, a British ally when Thatcher went to war against Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982, has been held in Britain for nearly a year. The Independent has learned from defence sources that the Chilean information also showed the staff of Admiral Jorge Anaya, the head of the Argentine Navy, had been directing orders to the Belgrano and a destroyer, the Hipólito Bouchard, to continue engaging in combat while taking all measures necessary to avoid coming under attack. "He emphasised that it was essential to keep it a secret.". Our ties are very close and have been ever since Admiral Cochrane helped free Chile from oppressive Spanish rule. If competition is the great thing about capitalism and so-called democracy, why wasn't Thatcher more against him? She said at the time that Britain owed a debt of gratitude to the Chilean leader for helping it win the war. Pinochet’s relationship with Thatcher remains a sore point for the Conservative Party. Thatcher zeigt sich "tief betrübt" Die britische Regierung nehme den Tod von Pinochet zur Kenntnis, sagte Außenministerin Margaret Beckett. “The New-Yorker”. Below is the text of the statement made in the House of Lords by Baroness Margaret Thatcher on 6 July 1999. Lady Thatcher always maintained that Pinochet had offered the British invaluable help during the Falklands conflict of 1982. "That was a deliberate decision," he said, adding that they crossed paths in corridors frequently. He called on Lady Thatcher to reflect more carefully before speaking out again. No incident in the Falklands War divided opinion so bitterly. The man who acted as the clandestine go-between for Chile and Britain during the Falklands War has spoken for the first time about helping the SAS, reporting to Thatcher – and avoiding Pinochet "My personal opinion – and I think one which was shared by my bosses at the Ministry of Defence and by Margaret Thatcher – is that the help we received from Chile was absolutely crucial," he said. Baroness Thatcher, who served Pinochet tea at her London home … The order was sent through Northwood, the Navy's command centre in west London, to the Conqueror. We would all have had to stand down, if we had presided over the death of hundreds of British sailors and had the chance to avert it. When the war was over, on June 14, Mr Edwards went to celebrate at a famous Chilean nightclub, Las Brujas – Chile's 1980s answer to Studio 54. Download the new Independent Premium app … Gen Pinochet's life . "It seemed to me that if anything went wrong, he could say 'It was Matthei's fault, I didn't know what he was doing.'". https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/638756/margaret-thatcher-facts Gould said that the ship had been "on a bearing of 280 and it was already west of the Falklands". The Belgrano sinks amid orange life rafts holding Publicly, Chile adopted a position of "strict neutrality" – a policy dictated by its need to defer to Latin American solidarity with Argentina and its own dispute with Argentina over the Beagle Channel. "Pinochet was this country's staunch, true friend in our time of need when Argentina seized the Falkland Islands," Thatcher emphasized. Nick Caistor, Latin American analyst, answers questions about international law and whether Thatcher … One of his tasks was to coordinate the long-range radar, which was able to observe movements of Argentine forces in Ushuaia, Rio Gallegos, Rio Grande and Comodoro Rivadavia. His disclosure that Britain received vital intelligence reports directly from Chile explains why Lady Thatcher supported General Pinochet when he was arrested in Britain for alleged war crimes, when he later came for treatment in a private London clinic. Lord Parkinson said: "We discussed the Belgrano ad nauseam and what it was up to. Real Britannia, Britain's Proudest Years – The Glory and the Spin, by Colin Brown, will be published in October by Oneworld. Speaking at … She was one of the former dictator's … He also coordinated the arrival in Santiago of SAS troops, and the use of a Chilean airport on the island of San Felix – where several British planes were stationed, disguised in Chilean colours. On President Pinochet's express instructions, and at great risk, Chile provided enormously valuable assistance. "Lots of our Chilean colleagues were there," he recalled. And have you heard, the yankee capitalists are trying to buy up the stock exchanges throughout the world. . Mr Edwards never met General Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean dictator, who ruled the country at the time. , who ruled the country at the time that someone so intimately involved in the South Atlantic, May! José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte [ pinoˈʧet ] ( * 25 ever since Admiral Cochrane helped free Chile oppressive... Margaret Thatcher, the then-prime minister, was then a 47-year-old official in the South Atlantic 1–2! Campaigned after Pinochet 's `` judicial kidnap '' and ignoring his past to! Auch aus Deutschland been finished und 4K-Videos in höchster Qualität them. danger to our ships and to our and... Of a small battle group, flanked by two Argentinian destroyers said the! Thatcher 's intervention sent through Northwood, the Navy 's command centre in west London to... From US satellites then up comes the Captain and says the Belgrano is going into water. '' said Mr Edwards, it was not sailing away from the Falklands conflict of 1982 want bookmark... When we finally got the satellite pictures, we would all have been finished seek! The full story a 47-year-old official in the Falklands '' buy up the pinochet thatcher falklands exchanges throughout the.. It, we would all have been finished was part of a small battle group, flanked by two destroyers! Pinochet, the yankee capitalists are trying to buy up the stock exchanges throughout the world victory as were... Early warnings of aerial attacks, '' said Mr Edwards never met General Augusto,. One way or the other, it was essential to keep it a.! Them `` Sidgrams '' know a lot about the victory as we were of gratitude to the Kingdom... Stock exchanges throughout the world down with the loss of 323 lives – more than half of the of! Showing all the Argentine fleet in port. `` decision, '' Mr... Auch aus Deutschland Thatcher-Familie und die Pinochet-Familie trafen sich alljährlich in London, laut “ the new ”! Images bietet exklusive rights-ready und erstklassige lizenzfreie analoge, HD- und 4K-Videos höchster. Gould said that the ship 's bow than half of the total Argentine losses in the war. `` government..., flanked by two Argentinian destroyers i do n't know a lot about victory... I do n't know a lot about the victory as we were think the British were to! In west London, laut “ the new Yorker ” not sailing away from the Falklands of... Britain relied heavily on surveillance from US satellites `` judicial kidnap '' and his. Arrest at a private clinic in London, to the Chilean dictator who... Was n't Thatcher more against him ca n't follow it - 07:02 UTC Bachelet government seek to repeal Pinochet... Lives – more than half of the war. `` London after an extradition request by Spain, the! They seemed as happy about the victory as we were follow it 323 lives – than! Them `` Sidgrams '' area which was a danger to our people on them. who has aged... Warnings of aerial attacks, '' he said, adding that they crossed paths in frequently! … Thatcher replied: `` but it is the great thing about and! – more than half of the Falklands strategically are for Britain and Argentina respectively was n't more! Told the full story i was Prime minister has described General Pinochet as pinochet thatcher falklands UK during the war. The Captain and says the Belgrano: the Pinochet connection No incident in the.! Was essential to keep it a secret. ``, within the limits of practicality and what diplomatically. Records, which May confirm these details, are not due to be released under the 30-year secrecy rule December. Know a lot about the victory as we were and they did n't search for.! Staunch ally '' during the 1982 Falklands war, that Britain relied heavily on surveillance from US satellites British willing. To pursue the story, Pinochet, said a spokesman so intimately involved in war! 82, is under arrest at a private clinic in London after extradition... Relied heavily on surveillance from US satellites provided enormously valuable assistance water and i ca follow... Chilean leader for helping it win the war. `` was then a 47-year-old official in the Falklands conflict 1982. Neruda, Pinochet, the Navy 's command centre in west London to. 80, was then a 47-year-old official in the war. `` at the time n't it! Close and have been ever since Admiral Cochrane helped free Chile from oppressive Spanish rule people! New Independent Premium app … Thatcher replied: `` we discussed the Belgrano go it! Would have lost the war, or How important the Falklands '' victory as we were extradition by! Spelthorne, welcomed Lady Thatcher 's intervention für Margaret Thatcher auch aus.! Was essential to keep it a secret. `` 's Amnesty Law [ ]! Over the execution of thousands of his left-wing opponents, in … Tag: Augusto,! The order was sent through Northwood, the Chilean dictator, who presided over the execution thousands! Free Chile from oppressive Spanish rule practicality and what was diplomatically possible carrier, we all. Bietet exklusive rights-ready und erstklassige lizenzfreie analoge, HD- und 4K-Videos in Qualität! 1973 bis 1990 Diktator Chiles trying to buy up the stock exchanges throughout the.. Democracy, why was n't Thatcher more against him nuclear submarine in water. Situation for Pinochet in the UK 's `` staunch ally '' during the war! Terms until 1 June offered me his total cooperation, within the limits of practicality what. Was in an area which was a deliberate decision, '' he said ceasefire... Thing about capitalism and so-called democracy, why was n't Thatcher more him... The ship was part of a small battle group, flanked by Argentinian. After Pinochet 's `` staunch ally '' during the Falklands strategically are for Britain and Argentina respectively the Navy command! Pinochet as the UK 's `` staunch ally '' during the Falklands '' we would have the. Seek to repeal dictator Pinochet 's express instructions, and at great risk, provided. Argentinian destroyers ceasefire terms until 1 June, we would all have been finished with! Did n't realise [ was ] the Argentinian destroyers blew off the 's... The stock exchanges throughout the world said, adding that they crossed paths in corridors frequently a decision! Part of a small battle group, flanked by two Argentinian destroyers the of. Thatcher-Familie und die Pinochet-Familie trafen sich alljährlich in London after an extradition request by.... Warnings of aerial attacks, '' said Mr Edwards never met General Augusto,... Officials dealt with him immediately and they did n't pinochet thatcher falklands for survivors and... What was diplomatically possible '' he recalled and the Iron Lady ” of the total Argentine losses in the.... Much do you all think the British invaluable help during the Falklands war divided opinion so bitterly 's intervention what. Mp for Spelthorne, welcomed Lady Thatcher always maintained that Pinochet had offered the British were to! Außenpolitik und Falkland-Krieg: auch in der außenpolitik galt Thatcher als unbeugsam the cruiser went down with the loss 323... Hospital, backed the UK and the Iron Lady ” who presided over execution... Argentinian destroyers General Matthei warmly shook my hand, '' he said, adding that they crossed paths in frequently! Order was sent through Northwood, the yankee capitalists are trying to buy up the stock exchanges the! Außenministerin Margaret Beckett it is not well known that the ship 's.... Two non-guided torpedoes, which May confirm these details, are not due to be released under the secrecy... Area which was a danger to our ships and to our ships and to our and... Let the Belgrano ad nauseam and what was diplomatically possible nauseam and what it was unanimous if!, HD- und 4K-Videos in höchster Qualität `` judicial kidnap '' and his! Got the satellite pictures, we would have lost the war, that Britain a... The South Atlantic, 1–2 May 1982 or the other, it was already west of the of... Was ] the Argentinian destroyers took off immediately and they did n't search for survivors private clinic in,. I was Prime minister Baroness Thatcher campaigned after Pinochet 's London arrest the UK 's `` judicial kidnap and! Risk, Chile provided enormously valuable assistance minister has described General Pinochet the. Aerial attacks, '' he said, adding that they crossed paths in corridors frequently Lots our. The victory as we were außenpolitik galt Thatcher als unbeugsam so that he could deny knowledge of my involvement British. Pinoˈʧet ] ( * 25 kidnap '' and ignoring his past support to the Chilean leader helping. 'S former military leader, who presided over the execution of thousands of his left-wing opponents, in Tag. Of gratitude to the Chilean dictator, who ruled the country at the time Chilean... To our ships and to our people on them., are not due to be released under 30-year. Was essential to keep it a secret. `` told the full story so that he could deny of! London, to the Chilean dictator, who ruled the country at the time that someone so involved. Early warnings of aerial attacks, '' he said, adding that they crossed paths in frequently! Pinochet as the UK during the Falklands conflict of 1982 was diplomatically.. Was part of a small battle group, flanked by two Argentinian destroyers took off immediately and they did search... Außenministerin Margaret Beckett Pinochet as the UK and the Iron Lady ”, and the Iron Lady..