Some letters

SIR – Sixty billion barrels of oil sounds like quite a lot.

Why can’t we share the development costs and the proceeds with Argentina?

John Gibson
Standlake, Oxfordshire

Telegraph

SIR – John Gibson's suggestion (Letters, February 22) of sharing the proceeds of Falklands oil with Argentina was precisely what was considered in 1975.

To refresh my memory, I dusted off the thesis I wrote for the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, on my return in 1979 from commanding the Falkland Islands' Royal Marines' Naval Party 8901.

Following a seismic survey in the mid 1970s it was estimated that 20 billion barrels of oil was recoverable: apparently six times the then known North Sea reserves. Tentative plans were for British companies to drill the oil and pipe it ashore to Comodoro Rivadavia, an oil town on the Argentine coast. There it would be refined and sold on the world's markets to the financial advantage of all, including the Falkland Islanders.

On April 2, 1982, Argentina forfeited any such collaboration. Foresight might have saved the day – and lives – all round.

Lt-Col Ewen Southby-Tailyour
Ermington, South Devon

SIR – I was worried by the observation by Emma Edwards, a Falklands councillor (report, February 22), that the few Argentines living in the islands "keep a very low profile". Years ago, when I visited Port Stanley, I found signs of intimidation against those, both Argentines and Britons, committed to a better relationship between the islands and Argentina.

Tom Leonard's report seems to indicate little has changed. It is understandable that the majority of the inhabitants of the Falklands have a right to be British, but their insistence in preserving a splendid isolation in a fortress Falklands financed by the British taxpayer is less justifiable.

Gibraltar shows that disputes on sovereignty can coexist with civilised social relations between those involved. The British in the Falklands would best honour their Britishness if they encouraged trade, communications and dialogue with their difficult neighbour.

Agustín Blanco-Bazán
London NW8

SIR – The leftist Argentine government despises and fears its own armed forces.

The last woman president, Isabel Perón was overthrown by the military, and the so-called Dirty War of the 1970s and 1980s followed, when thousands of guerrillas and Left-wing activists disappeared in a violent counter-insurgency campaign mounted by the armed forces.

As a result, the armed forces are now reviled at every opportunity and starved of a budget which allows them to do much more than mount a ceremonial guard. Morale is at rock bottom. The Argentine navy could hardly afford the fuel oil to get them to the islands, let alone do anything once they got there.

This latest campaign is an attempt at playing to the gallery by President Cristina Kirchner to win a new presidential term, which, due to her mishandling of the economy, is unlikely to win over anyone, least of all cynical Argentine voters.

Martin Runnacles
Belchamp Walter, Suffolk

Telegraph