Item WOOLLY AL 4/3 - Transcript of interview with Sir John Nott, former Secretary of State for Defence, 1991

Typescript transcript of interview with Rt Hon Sir John William Frederic Nott, British Secretary of State for Defence 1981-1983, relating to the British Government's response to Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands (2 Apr 1982), including his discussion of response alternatives with Rt Hon Margaret Hilda Thatcher, British Prime Minister, 1979-1990, and AF Sir Henry (Conyers) Leach, British Chief of Naval Staff and First Sea Lord, 1979-1982, 30 Mar 1982; British Government Cabinet meetings and the establishment of a Cabinet subcommittee to oversee the military operations comprising of Peter Alexander Rupert Carington, Sixth Baron Carrington (Lord Carrington), Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, 1979-1982, Rt Hon William Stephan Ian Whitelaw, Home Secretary 1979-1983, Rt Hon Cecil Edward Parkinson, Paymaster General, 1981-1983 and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 1982-1983, Prime Minister Thatcher along with Nott; House of Commons debate on the Falklands conflict followed by the meeting of the '1922 Committee' (of Conservative Party back benchers) (3 Apr 1982); the resignation of Lord Carrington as Foreign Secretary (Apr 1982) and the appointment of Rt Hon Francis Leslie Pym as his successor. Also comments on the meetings with Alexander Meigs Haig, US Secretary of State, 1981-1982 during and discussion of a diplomatic solution (8, 12-13 Apr 1982); the purpose of Pym's visit to Washington, 22-23 Apr 1982; the announcement to the British media of the recovery of South Georgia; and the British cabinet's private rejection of the US proposal for joint administration of the islands [17 Apr 1982].