World Notes Diplomacy

After 74 days and 1,000 deaths, the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands ended in a formal British victory, right? Wrong. While the British did defeat the Argentines in battle, no cease-fire was ever signed between the two belligerents, so technically the war goes on.

Argentina last week proposed an end to hostilities and a resumption of normal diplomatic relations if Britain would lift a 150-mile protective zone around the Falkland Islands that keeps out Argentine ships. Argentina also wanted to discuss the sovereignty of the British-held Falklands (pop. 2,000), which Argentina claims and calls Las Malvinas.

But Britain immediately spurned the cease-fire proposal as an attempt to gain at the bargaining table what could not be won in combat. The response of Argentine President Raul Alfonsin: "We are still seeing the intransigence and the obstinacy of the government of Britain."