Falklands Wars – the History of the Falkland Islands: with particular regard to Spanish and Argentine pretensions and taking some account of South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and Britain's Antarctic Territories by Roger Lorton 1 Paper 82 1853 – 1899 Consolidation “Nothing is claimed from us by other nations; we have nothing to ask of them.” 3 ◈ While the Falkland Islands were generally now accepted as British territory – even by Argentina – that did not prevent others considering that they had rights. In particular the sealers of the United States still saw the Falklands as an unregulated resource; an area that they had been fishing for more than seventy years. Previous attempts to curtail their activities by Spain and Buenos Aires had been ineffective but Britain had to do better and demonstrate effective control. The change, however, had to be brought about diplomatically, so sealing regulations would be slow to appear, and slower to be enforced. Washington itself had doubts about the legal nature of its South Atlantic fishery; but bull & bluster would suffice for a while. The US Navy was never short of a good measure of gung-ho. This paper is concerned with the consolidation of Britain's administration of the archipelago in the face of aggression by the Americans; depleted seal stocks and the fall in the value of oil. Also, the renewal of divisions in the Argentine Confederation, Patagonia's colonization and then a reviving interest in the archipelago by Buenos Aires. A new nation trying itself on for size. 1853 – January 8th, from Stanley, Governor Rennie writes to Sir John Packington. “In the year ending December 1851, 17538 tons of shipping from England and foreign parts entered this harbour; in the year ending December 1852, there were 22,024 tons, being an increase of 4,486 tons. This augmentation necessarily produces a demand for produce, labour and stores of every description, affording remunerative profits to the storekeepers and employment at good wages to the labouring classes, unskilled 3s to 5s per diem, and skilled 6s to 10s. Provisions are abundant, and at reasonable prices. … The grumbling and discontent manifested by a portion of the enrolled pensioners settled here has subsided since the notification to them by the Secretary-at-War that they were at liberty to return to England if they preferred to do so, nor has even one of them up to the present time availed himself of the permission. ...” 4 1 Falklands Wars – the History of the Falkland Islands: with particular regard to Spanish and Argentine pretensions and taking some account of South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and Britain's Antarctic Territories Roger Lorton LL.B(Hon), M.Phil. 2011 – 2019. Roger Lorton has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 2 Citation = Lorton, Roger. Falklands Wars: Timeline History of the Falkland Islands. Wordpress 2011 Paper 8 3 Argentine President Sarmiento's Message to Congress May 1, 1869 4 Quoted in Brazil, the river Plate, and the Falkland Islands, with the Cape Horn Route William Hadfield 1854 1 January 11th, Rennie also writes to the Colonial Office to complain; “... that systematic depredations are, and have been for many years, carried on by Whaling Vessels belonging to the United States,..” 5 “These vessels pay no regard to the established Regulations respecting fisheries, but capture Whales actually within our harbour and kill the seals on land. When it is calculated that each of these vessels with its tender stow at least 400 to 500 tons of oil the average price of which is £30 per ton, and the usual time required to obtain it from two to three years, it will be seen that the coasts and harbours of this colony are robbed to the extent of 10 or £15,000 per Annum; one of the Whalers completing her cargo annually.” 6 In particular, Rennie notes that Hiram Clift, an American Captain prosecuted in 1849 for taking wild cattle, has returned to the Islands in the Hudson. January 12th, the Falklands’ Governor responds to a Colonial Office request of September, 1852 regarding Luis Vernet’s demands for compensation. Rennie dismisses any suggestion of misconduct by Whitington or Lafone, but accepts that Lieut. Smith had used Vernet’s horses during his time on the Falklands. 7 January 27th, a Canadian barque, Actaeon, puts into Stanley. After being declared unfit, she is scuttled. 8 In February, the New York Times announces the discovery of large quantities of guano on the Islands. 9 From Buenos Aires, Norberto Riestra travels to London to pay off 24 years of arrears to Barings Bank. 10 February 18th, visiting Hamburg, Luis Vernet submits a petition asking for that Government to intercede on his behalf with both Britain and the United States regarding his compensation claims. 11 March 9th, in London, the Home Office write to the Foreign Office with a suggestion that the Falkland Islands should be; “... adapted for the formation of a Penal Settlement.” 12 Governor Rennie notifies the Colonial Office that one of the settlers, the son of Juan Simon, has an outstanding claim against Luis Vernet. “... a bond formerly given by Vernet for one thousand six hundred Spanish dollars together with certain dollar notes, formerly issued by Vernet, for a sum altogether of four hundred and fifty nine Spanish Dollars: making a total for bond and notes of two thousand and fifty nine Spanish Dollars.” 13 March 19th, the Duke of Newcastle (Secretary of State for War and the Colonies) informs Lord Palmerston (Foreign Office) that the Falklands had previously been deemed, “not suitable” for a penal settlement. “... it is not advisable at present to entertain proposals for the formation of any new Convict Colony.” 14 5 FO 97/35/82. Also FO 78/30 6 Ibid. 7 Luis Vernet, the Buenos Airean commandant of Soledad Island from 1829 to 1833 (present there 1829 – 1831), was in London seeking compensation for losses he claimed to have suffered as a result of the reassertion of British rights in the archipelago in 1833. See Papers 5, 6 & 7. 8 Cambridge Expedition to the Falkland Islands 1977: Report to the National Maritime Museum. 9 The New York Times February 10, 1853 10 The English in South America ... M.G. Mulhall 1878. In 1828, Buenos Aires defaulted on a loan taken out in 1824. 11 Vernet had been born in Hamburg. Following receipt of this petition the Hamburg Senate declined to offer any practical assistance or to intervene on Vernet's behalf. 12 Palmerston to Merivale March 9, 1853 in FO 78/31 13 CO 78/43. cf. 1858 14 FO 78/31 2 March 31st, in receipt of Rennie's complaint regarding US whalers, Newcastle asks Palmerston whether; “... any communication has been made to the American Government on this subject.” 15 April 21st, the War and Colonies Office and the Foreign Office agree that a complaint should be made to the Washington Government regarding the depredations of US whalers and sealers at the Falklands. 16 April 22nd, an instruction is sent to the British representative in Washington, noting that no reply had been received to a similar complaint of February, 1850. “Such proceedings of American citizens are not in harmony with the amicable Relations existing between the Govt. of Britain & the United States and HM gov feel confident that they cannot fail to meet with the disapprobation of the American Govt.; but it is essentially necessary that they should be put a stop to, and while HM Govt. are of course bound to protect British Territory from aggression or from acts of spoliation, and … cannot but be sensible that the force which it is their intention to place at the disposal of the Govt. of the Falkland Islands may lead to collisions and provoke an unfriendly feeling between the Subjects & Citizens of the two countries. It is with a view to prevent such a result that I now instruct you to bring these facts again to the notice of the Govt. of the United States with whom you will concert in a friendly spirit as to the best mode of checking, in the United States, the evil design of these marauders.”17 By May, 13 provinces of Argentina have ratified the 1852 Constitution. Buenos Aires stands alone. “Argentina split into two independent countries. The 13 provinces retained the former official name, the Argentine Confederation, and transferred the federal capital to Paraná,..” 18 May 9th, Britain's representative in Washington DC, presents Britain's complaints to the US Secretary of State. “I am ... instructed by HM Govt. to State to the Govt of the US that continued depredations are made by American Ship Masters on the Falkland Islands, and that the fines imposed upon them have not prevented them from repeating their acts of spoliation. I have the honour to enclose herewith the copy of a letter from the Colonial Office enclosing a report from the Governor of the Falkland Islands in which some recent instances of the facts complained of are stated in detail....” 19 May 10th, a House of Lords debate considering the future of the transportation of criminals to British outposts, dismisses the suggestion that the Falklands would be a suitable location. “It was possible that the Falkland Islands might absorb a few dozen convicts with tickets of leave; and perhaps some arrangement might be made with the company that had undertaken the improvement of those islands, to afford employment there even to one or two hundred convicts. But this could not be carried far: what was wanted was a place to send convicts to where they might form only a small proportion of the population.