Britain's Antarctic dimension

Abstract

During the decade or so prior to the Falklands War of 1982 there were clear signs that British governments were losing interest in the South-west Atlantic region as a whole, and consequently in the future of the British possessions located there, that is, the Falkland Islands, the Falkland Islands Dependencies (South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands) and British Antarctic Territory (South Orkneys, South Shetlands and the mainland sector centred upon Graham Land between 200 and 800 W). However, this situation was transformed by the Falklands War of AprilJune 1982, since this Anglo-Argentine conflict, which embraced both the Falklands and the Dependencies, resulted in the adoption of a more positive and committed British policy towards not only the islands regained from Argentine occupation but also the neighbouring British Antarctic Territory. There are, nevertheless, several elements of continuity in British policy towards Antarctica, including the maintenance of territorial claims to British Antarctic Territory, support for the continued development of the Antarctic Treaty system and an interest in the scientific research conducted by the British Antarctic Survey.' But since the Falklands War the South-west Atlantic has become an area of higher priority in official thinking, and this transformation of attitude has been accompanied by a large increase in the level of Britain's material commitment towards the Falklands, the Falkland Islands Dependencies and the British Antarctic Territory. Such developments offer a marked contrast to the position at the close of 1981 and during the early months of 1982, when the British government's policy towards the South-west Atlantic region was being criticized both in parliament and in the mass media for its lack of commitment to the area. For example, on 5 November 1981 Michael Shersby, a Conservative backbencher, expressed his concern on the matter, while a fuller debate and critique took place in the House of Lords' discussion inaugurated by Lord Morris on 16 December 1981.2 On 15 December an Early Day Motion was tabled in the House of Commons to the effect: