At 10:15 pm (BST) on the night of 14 June 1982, British prime ministerMargaret Thatcher announced to theHouse of Commons that negotiations had begun for thesurrender of the Argentine invasion force in theFalkland Islands, ending theFalklands War. Her statement noted that "they are reported to be flyingwhite flags over Port Stanley", the capital of the Falklands. This was based on an erroneous report from a front-line unit; in fact, nowhite flags are known to have been flown, though Argentine resistance ended, and aceasefire was in place. The surrender was finalised by 1:30 am BST on 15 June. Thatcher's statement was welcomed from all sides in the House, and she left to join celebrating crowds inDowning Street. She later described the statement as "perhaps the proudest moment of my life".
Argentina invaded the Britishdependent territory of theFalkland Islands on 2 April 1982 andSouth Georgia on 3 April. An Argentine military governor, Brigadier GeneralMario Benjamín Menéndez, was installed to administer the territory. TheConservative government ofMargaret Thatcher quickly assembleda task force to retake the islands, with the first elements sailing south on 5 April. British troopslanded at San Carlos Bay on 21 May and fought their way acrossEast Falkland towards the capital,Port Stanley.[1] On 11 June British forces, by now led byRoyal Marines Major GeneralJeremy Moore, launched their attack on the outer ring of the Argentine Port Stanley defences in the battles ofTwo Sisters,Mount Harriet andMount Longdon. After a pause to reposition troops and ammunition, the British launched the 13 June attacks onMount Tumbledown, a key feature in the defences, andWireless Ridge, which overlooks Port Stanley. After taking these positions, the British troops noticed the Argentine forces withdrawing into Port Stanley and began an advance towards the town.[2]
Major Bill Dawson, thesecond-in-command of the7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles who were part of the advance, reported hearing from the unit's A Company that awhite flag was visible in Port Stanley. He was filmed leaving his communications tent on Two Sisters mountain, still wearing his headphones, to tell waiting reporters, "I can confirm that white flags are flying over Stanley, the Argentines have surrendered – Bloody marvellous".[3] Shortly afterwards an RAF pilot flying aHawker Siddeley Harrier GR. 3 was ordered to abort aground attack run by his ground-basedforward air controller due to the report of white flags. The pilot reported this news to Captain Linley Middleton and Rear AdmiralSandy Woodward upon his return toHMS Hermes. This was the first that the naval task force, commanded by Woodward, had heard of the flags.[4]
The Falkland Islanders in Port Stanley always insisted they had seen no white flags. Dawson stated in 2002 that the report of white flags was probably a mistake as he could find no one from A Company that admitted to making the initial report. Dawson considered that "it was probably someone's washing hanging on a clothes line".[3] The commander of3 Commando Brigade, BrigadierJulian Thompson, noted that the brigade'sreconnaissance unit heard the message "white flags over Stanley" over the radio, but on looking at Port Stanley through their binoculars could see nothing that corroborated the report. A marine reported a white object, but he stated that "it looks more like someone's knickers on the line".[5] Lieutenant Colonel David Chaundler of the2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which led the advance into Stanley recalled seeing no white flags and thought that Dawson was speaking metaphorically.[6]
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had spent 13 June at theRoyal Navy'sNorthwood Headquarters in Hertfordshire, observing the war's final battles. On the morning of 14 June, she held a tense meeting with herwar cabinet, whose members were expecting news of an Argentine collapse.[7] The first reports of white flags over Port Stanley had reached London by around 1 pmBST (9 amFalklands time). Thatcher, intent on controlling the moment of the announcement, imposed apress blackout. She wanted the report to be broadcast live on theITN News at Ten, snubbing the earlierBBC Nine O'Clock News.[8]
TheHouse of Commons sat from 2:30 pm that day in a session dominated by routine answers to questions made by ministers for theDepartment of Industry and the attorney-generalMichael Havers. Discussions on several foreign and defence matters followed this.[9] At 4 pm, the House entered a lengthy debate on amotion byLabour member of parliament (MP) for DoncasterHarold Walker to send ahumble address toElizabeth II to annul orders made by the Conservative government abolishing eightindustrial training boards. The motion was unsuccessful, and Thatcher was among those that voted against it at 10 pm.[10]
After the vote, at around 10:15 pm (6:15 pm Falklands time), Thatcher raised apoint of order to the speaker,George Thomas, asking to provide information to the House on the Falklands War. Thomas granted her permission, and she made the following statement:[11][12][13]
After successful attacks last night, General Moore decided to press forward. The Argentines retreated. Our forces reached the outskirts of Port Stanley. Large numbers of Argentine soldiers threw down their weapons. They are reported to be flyingwhite flags over Port Stanley. Our troops have been ordered not to fire except in self-defence. Talks are now in progress between General Menendez and our Deputy Commander,Brigadier Waters, about the surrender of the Argentine forces onEast andWest Falkland. I shall report further to the House tomorrow.
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The statement was followed by cries ofhear, hear, the traditional expression of acclamation, from across the House. TheLeader of the Opposition, the Labour Party'sMichael Foot, spoke to thank Thatcher for sharing the news and to welcome "an end to the bloodshed". He stated that there would be "widespread, genuine rejoicing", echoinga remark made by Thatcher in April 1982 following thesuccessful liberation of South Georgia by British forces. Foot acknowledged that he had disagreements with Thatcher on some issues, including theorigin of the war, but hoped that the House could work to "transform what has occurred into benefits for our country as a whole" and his party would work towards this.[12]
Liberal Party leaderDavid Steel also spoke to say that the whole House should rejoice at the news. The deputy leader of theSocial Democratic Party,David Owen, offered his congratulations and his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.[12] Thatcher had requested the attendance of thePermanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, civil servantAntony Acland, and he had rushed to the chamber from a dinner at theSpanish embassy. He watched the statement from the Officials' Box alongside AdmiralTerence Lewin and Cabinet SecretaryRobert Armstrong.[14]
After the responses to the statement were concluded, Foot stated that some business remained scheduled for the day but that he thought the House should nowadjourn. The Conservativeleader of the House,John Biffen, dissented and requested that a motion relating to public health in Scotland be allowed to proceed. Labour MPsChristopher Price andBruce Millan also spoke regarding the adjournment, suggesting that the House was in favour of it.[12] The Speaker indicated he would adjourn but allowed a half-hour discussion on thepaper industry to proceed, with the business being concluded at 11:51 pm.[15]
Upon leaving the House, Thatcher returned to her official residence at Downing Street, where she mingled with a crowd of supporters singing "Rule, Britannia!". At this point, she stated to reporters, "we knew what we had to do and we went about it and did it. Great Britain is great again."[8]
In the Falklands, a ceasefire came into effect after it became clear to the Argentine command that there was nothing to be gained from continuing the fight. General Moore entered Port Stanley at 9:30 pm on 14 June (1.30 am on 15 June in BST) to sign the officialArgentine surrender.[2] The surrender was backdated to 8:59 pm (12:59 am BST) so that in the military'sZulu time (23:59) it had the same date of 14 June, to avoid confusion.[16] British forces occupied Port Stanley on the morning of 15 June and disarmed the Argentine troops. The liberation ofThule in theSouth Sandwich Islands, which had been occupied by Argentina in the years leading up to the war,was completed by 20 June. The approximately 11,000 Argentine prisoners taken during the war wererepatriated to Argentina by 14 July.[2] The victory revived Thatcher's domestic popularity and was a key factor in her1983 election win.[2] Thatcher later stated that her Commons statement of 14 June was "perhaps the proudest moment of my life".[17]
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