Untitled Document

Falklandia

A History of the Falkland Islands

For those of you who are interested in the End Notes by themselves, and which comprise of Historical documents such as United Nations Resolutions, a copy of the 1849 Convention Of Settlement (the peace treaty whereby Argentina gave up its claim to the Falkland Islands), and other such documents then please follow this link

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The Falkland Islands

History

by Roger Lorton LL.B(Hon), M.Phil

I began this as a blog site with the aim of furthering my own knowledge, so that I could better understand the arguments employed by Argentina in its long running battle to gain ownership of this small group of islands.

Set out as a time-line, it rather reflects the way that I like to view things, in factual chunks, the better to understand the processes involved and to see the relationship between one event and another.

It is my belief that history needs to be viewed in context, and that seemingly unrelated incidents may still have a direct influence on the matter at hand. There is little than can be viewed in isolation.

This is the result. 99% of which was discovered on the internet; which is itself quite amazing.

It is not just a history of the archipelago, it is also a history of the disputes of which Argentina's claims are only the latest. The Falklands appear destined to cause controversy, whether it be 1865, 1870 or 1833. Or even 1982. Even 2012.

And all connected; the Falkland Islands are tied as much to South America's history as they are to Europe's.

Argentina's history commenced with a complicated and ever changing puzzle of provincial allegiances, centered around Buenos Aires. Wherever possible I've tried to use the correct title for the time, otherwise 'Argentina' is the default setting to reduce confusion.

If any nation ever had a better claim to those far flung, windy, islands, then it was Spain, but they let go.

Not in 1811 as it so often stated, but after 1836 when that great State came to recognise that the American dominions were lost to it.

The Falkland Islands were already firmly British by then, and not just West Falkland, but the whole archipelago. They have remained so for the 179 years since sovereignty was re-established in 1833.

Re-established !

I started out with an opinion that the Islands were British. An opinion based more on faith than any real knowledge. I have finished with the same opinion, although now I hope that the historical evidence speaks for itself. And that's a different problem. History has no real conclusion, it just keeps happening, so I'm not going to conclude either. I am aware that there are better historians, and better legal minds, doing that already, and I eagerly await their opinions.

Most of the facts in this history I obtained free of charge from the internet. Now I give them back.

Roger Lorton 3 rd January 2012 (179 years)

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