SovereigntyThe right to rule the people inhabiting the Falklands Islands is contested by both Argentina and Britain. Both sides dismiss the others claims to the islands and simultaneously provide detailed accounts as to why their history is correct. The British account states that they were the first people to land on the unoccupied, unused collection of islands and claimed them for the British Empire in a time of heavy colonial wars. They argue that this gives them the right to own the islands since 1594. Even though they had no colony until 1765 the British state that they own the islands because they were first to arrive. The British also respect the rights of the islanders to self determination. This means they have the right to choose who rules over them. This argument holds for the present day , the question of sovereignty was put to the islanders, who responded unanimously that they wished to be remain British. The Argentinean account is far longer and differs from the British. It accepts that the British were the first to land on the island, but rejects their claim that this gives them the right to call the Falklands British because no colony was planted in 1594, only a flag. Which in real value counts for very little. |
Argentina argues the significance of the first colony on the Falklands, Port St. Louis (a French colony established in 1764). This port, whilst it holds little relating it directly to Argentina, was related to France. The Spanish Empire and the French Empire were allies. The alliance between France and Spain built on the two countries long standing frienship. Since France had little involvement with the South Atlantic and that was where most of the Spanish colonies were, they decided to give the Falklands islands to Spain. Argentina fought for independance for Spain in a revolution, as much of the Spanish Empire collapsed. In doing so they inherited the islands that Spain abandoned when leaving Latin America; steming all the way from Port St. Louis under French occupation to show that their legitimate ownership of the islands was accurate to a year before the British claim begins. |
Argentina soldiers invaded the Falklands and suceeded in taking them from the British in 1820 and began to directly rule them. It was then unreasonably recaptured by Britain in 1833.
Argentina also dismiss claims that the islanders want to be British. Believeing that the islanders currently inhabiting the islands as colonists are pre determined to favour Britain over Argentina and have been indoctrinated by British propaganda. |