English: On the 14th June 1982, the war in the Falkland Islands between Great Britain and Argentina came to an end. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with the Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, which returned the islands to British control. During the conflict, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and 3 Falkland Islanders died.
This letter dated from the 15th June 1982 is from UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. Though New Zealand were not involved in the Falklands War, Robert Muldoon offered his full support to Great Britain. This offer included sending the HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Waikato to the Indian Ocean to relieve Royal Navy frigates, so they in turn could be deployed in the Falklands. New Zealand also broke off all diplomatic relations with Argentina.
This letter, along with photograph albums presented to Robert Muldoon to commemorate official visits and engagements and official and personal correspondence were donated to Archives New Zealand by Lady Thea Muldoon, wife of the late Robert Muldoon. Other items of interest in this series of records include: photographs of Muldoon and US President Ronald Reagan; Queen Elizabeth II on the opening of the Beehive in Wellington and a letter of thanks from the Duke of Edinburgh.
Archives Reference: AAXO 8029 W4742 25/261
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