The Thatcher government's response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, 1979–1980

Abstract

The extent to which the Thatcher government supported the Carter administration in forcefully responding to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is disputed by a number of historians. Whilst some regard London's response as rhetorical at best, others believe it to have been a concrete demonstration of Prime Minister Thatcher's loyalty to the United States in its longstanding struggle against the Soviet Union. This article offers a more nuanced position that distinguishes between the degree of economic and diplomatic support the British government provided to Carter. Thatcher's diplomatic rejoinder to Soviet aggression over the course of 1980 was fierce, as evidenced by her strong stand on the Olympic boycott. However, Britain's precarious economic situation at the time of the invasion led the British government to provide only tepid backing to Carter in his attempt to punish Moscow through economic sanctions.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank Dr. N. Piers Ludlow for his advice and guidance throughout the drafting of this article, which was originally my Master's dissertation for the LSE's History of International Relations programme. I am also grateful to Maria Linhares de Sousa and James Lahey for their support.

Notes

126 Steven Rattner, ‘Britain Defying U.S. Restriction in Soviet Project,’ The New York Times, 3 August 1982, A1.

125 Washington to FCO, Tel. 1397, 9 April 1980, PREM 19/375.

124 Ovendale, Anglo-American Relations in the Twentieth Century, 148; Smith, ‘Britain and the United States,’ 15.

123 Rob Evans and Paul Kelso, ‘How Thatcher tried to stop Olympic hero Coe from winning gold in Moscow,’The Guardian, 24 February 2006.

122 Thatcher to Howell, Ibid.

121 Thatcher to Fraser, 4 June 1980, PREM 19/376.

120 Leonard Downie, ‘British Olympic Body Will Accept Moscow Bid,’ The Washington Post, 25 March 1980, A24.

119 ‘Memorandum,’ 14 March 1980, Ibid.

118 Follows to Thatcher, 7 March 1980, PREM 19/374.

117 Brzezinski, Power and Principle, 434.

116 Lever to Alexander, 4 March 1980

115 Lever to Alexander, 4 March 1980, PREM 19/314.

114 ‘Record of Meeting at State Department,’ 12 February 1980, PREM 19/374Ibid.

113 Follows to Thatcher, 23 January 1980 1 February 1980, Ibid.

112 Follows to Thatcher, 23 January 1980, Thatcher to Follows, 22 January 1980

111 Thatcher to Follows, 22 January 1980

110 Thatcher to Follows, 22 January 1980, Ibid.

109 ‘Record of Paris Meeting,’ 15 January 1980, PREM 19/135; Alexander to Lyne, 14 January 1980, PREM 19/374.

108 Carter to Thatcher, 20 January 1980, Ibid.

107 Alexander to Lyne, 8 January 1980, Ibid.

106 FCO to UKMIS New York, Tel. 32, 10 January 1980, Ibid.

105 Alexander to Lyne, 8 January 1980, PREM 19/374.

104 Alexander to Lyne, 8 January 1980, PREM 19/374.

103 Moscow to FCO, Tel. 10, 4 January 1980, PREM 19/134.

102 FCO to Ottawa, Tel. 20, 16 January 1980, ‘Olympic Games Memorandum,’ Ibid.

101 Carter to Thatcher, 20 January 1980, PREM 19/134.

100 Washington to FCO, Tel. 316, 20 January 1980, PREM 19/374.

99 UMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 49, 7 January 1980, Ibid.

98 Ibid. Tel. 110, 14 January 1980, Ibid.

97 UKMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 75, 10 January 1980, PREM 19/134.Ibid.

96 UKMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 5, 2 January 1980 Tel. 38, 5 January 1980, Ibid.

95 UKMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 5, 2 January 1980 Tel. 9, 3 January 1980, Ibid.

94 UKMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 5, 2 January 1980, IPREM 19/134.

93 FCO to Washington, Tel. 17, 3 January 1980, Ibid.

92 UKMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 1985, 31 December 1979, Ibid.

91 FCO to UKMIS New York, 31 December 1979, ibid.

90 UKMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 38, 6 January 1980, PREM 19/134.

89 UKMIS New York to FCO, Tel. 3, January 1980, ‘Afghanistan Background Note,’ 29 December 1979

88 ‘Afghanistan Background Note,’ 29 December 1979

87 ‘Afghanistan Background Note,’ 29 December 1979, Ibid.

86 Lever to Lankester, 28 December 1979, PREM 19/134.

85 ‘Record of Telephone Conversation between Thatcher and Carter,’ 28 December 1979, THCR 3/1/4, MSS.

84 The Washington Post, 15 January 1980, A1.

83 ‘Record of Ministers’ Meeting,' 16 January 1980, PREM 19/135.

82 ‘Record of Telephone Conversation between Thatcher and Carter,’ 28 December 1979, THCR 3/1/4, MSS.

81 Carrington to Thatcher, 19 January 1980, PREM 19/374.

80 Thatcher to Carter, 3 March 1980, PREM 19/137.

79 Cresswell to Lavers, 21 October 1980, FCO 37/2280.

78 ‘Record of Telephone Conversation between Thatcher and Cossiga,’ 21 January 1980, PREM 19/136.

77 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 12, CAB 130/1137.

76 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 12, CAB 130/1137.

75 Up to that point, members of COCOM could apply for ‘general exceptions,’ which, if granted, allowed a country to export embargoed technological goods to the communist bloc on a case-by-case basis. Carter wanted no more exceptions. Carter to Thatcher, 10 February 1980, THCR 3/1/6 f25, MSS.

74 David Wood, ‘EEC to send subsidized butter again to Russia,’ The Times, 21 February 1980, G1.

73 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 26 January 1980

72 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 26 January 1980, Ibid.

71 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 19 January 1980, CAB 128/67.

70 ‘Record of Ministers’ Meeting,' 16 January 1980, Ibid.

69 Carrington to Thatcher, 8 January 1980, PREM 19/135.

68 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 28, CAB 130/1137 17 and 28.

67 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 28, CAB 130/1137.

66 ‘Buttering up the Russians,’ The Times, 15 March 1980, A15.

65 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67.

64 MISC 29(80)1, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 22, CAB 130/1137.

63 Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 81.

62 Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, 78.

61 Peter Norman, ‘EEC to tighten credit rules against Russians,’ The Times, 7 February 1980, D19.

60 MISC 29(80)1, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 2, CAB 130/1137.

59 ‘Record of Ministers’ Meeting,' 16 January 1980, PREM 19/135.

58 Peter Carrington, House of Lords Debate, 24 January 1980, Hansard vol. 404 cc530–46.

57 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 8, CAB 130/1137 22.

56 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 8, CAB 130/1137.

55 Michael Hatfield, ‘MP wants end to export subsidies for Russia,’ The Times, 5 February 1980, E1.

54 Fred Emery, ‘Britain cuts contacts with Russia to show anger over Afghanistan,’ The Times, 25 January 1980, A1.

53 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 8, CAB 130/1137.

52 ‘Record of Ministers’ Meeting,' 16 January 1980, PREM 19/135.

51 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67.

50 Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, 79.

49 Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, 79.

48 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67.

47 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980, 21–23, CAB 130/1137.

46 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 13 March 1980, CAB 128/67

45 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67.

44 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 13 March 1980, CAB 128/67.

43 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67.

42 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980,14, CAB 130/1137 22.

41 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan,’ 16 January 1980,14, CAB 130/1137.

40 ‘Minutes of OGA Meeting,’ 8 January 1980, Ibid.

39 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan: Potential Costs of Measures Against the Soviet Union,’ 16 January 1980, 2, CAB 130/1137

38 MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan: Potential Costs of Measures Against the Soviet Union,’ 16 January 1980, 2, CAB 130/1137.

37 Given the Soviet Union's seat on the UNSC, such a contingency was highly unlikely. MISC 29(80)2, OGA, ‘Afghanistan: Potential Costs of Measures Against the Soviet Union,’ 16 January 1980, 2, ibid.

36 ‘Minutes from OGA Meeting,’ 8 January 1980, CAB 130/1137.

35 Alexander to Lyne, 14 January 1980, PREM 19/135.

34 Brzezinski, ‘Western European Reaction to US-Soviet Tension,’ 7 January 1980, NLC-6-22-2-3-6.

33 Jimmy Carter, ‘Speech on Afghanistan,’ 4 January 1980, Miller Centre, http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3403.

32 Cyrus Vance, Hard Choices (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983), 389.

31 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67/1.

30 Paul Sharp, Thatcher's Diplomacy: The Revival of British Foreign Policy (London: St. Martin's Press, 1997), 12.

29 Smith, ‘Britain and the United States,’ 9.

28 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67

27 ‘Cabinet Minutes,’ 10 January 1980, CAB 128/67.

26 Thatcher, The Downing Street Years, 91.

25 Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 10.

24 Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, 17.

23 Thatcher, The Downing Street Years, 87.

22 Douglas Hurd, ‘Report on Meeting of the Six,’ 31 December 1979, ibid.

21 ‘Minutes from Meeting of the Six,’ 31 December 1979, ibid.

20 FCO to Moscow, Tel. 800, 29 December 1979, ibid.

19 This group, consisting of the US, Canada, Britain, Italy, France, and Germany, was referred to within diplomatic channels as ‘the Six.’ ‘Minutes from Meeting of the Six,’ 31 December 1979, PREM 19/134.

18 Thatcher, The Downing Street Years, 88.

17 Zbginiew Brzezinski, ‘Western European Reaction to US-Soviet Tension,’ 7 January 1980, NLC-6-22-2-3-6

16 Zbginiew Brzezinski, ‘Western European Reaction to US-Soviet Tension,’ 7 January 1980, NLC-6-22-2-3-6.

15 Brzezinski, Power and Principle, 313.

14 ‘Record of Telephone Conversation between Thatcher and Carter,’ 28 December 1979, THCR 3/1/4, MSS.

13 Rosa, “The Last Battle of the Cold War begins: The Superpowers and Afghanistan, 1945–1980,”, 221.

12 Todd Rosa, ‘The Last Battle of the Cold War begins: The Superpowers and Afghanistan, 1945–1980,’ Proquest Dissertations and Theses, 2006, 281.

11 Thatcher, The Downing Street Years, 68; Zbigniew Brzezinski, Power and Principle: Memoirs of the National Security Adviser, 1977–1981 (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1985), 353.

10 Thatcher, The Downing Street Years, 68; Zbigniew Brzezinski, Power and Principle: Memoirs of the National Security Adviser, 1977–1981 (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1985), 307.

9 Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, 190.

8 Gabriella Grasselli, British and American Responses to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (Aldershot: Dartmouth, 1996), 6 and 195. With particular respect to the Olympic boycott, Grasselli's assertion is echoed in two other works as well. See Christopher Grayling and Christopher Langoon, Just Another Star? Anglo-American Relations since 1945 (London: Harrap, 1988), 60; Nicholas Evan Sarantakes, Dropping the Torch: Jimmy Carter, the Olympic Boycott, and the Cold War (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011), 198.

7 Margaret Thatcher, The Downing Street Years (London: HarperCollins,1995), 88.

6 John Baylis, Anglo-American Defence Relations, 1939–1984 (New York: Macmillan, 1984), 181.

5 Smith, ‘Britain and the United States,’ 15.

4 Robert M. Hathaway, Great Britain and the United States: Special Relations since World War II (London: Twayne Publishers, 1990), 116; Ritchie Ovendale, Anglo-American Relations in the Twentieth Century (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998), 148.

3 Michael Smith, ‘Britain and the United States: Beyond the ‘Special Relationship’?,’ in British Foreign Policy Under Thatcher, edited by Peter Byrd (London: P. Allan, 1988), 15.

2 Fred Halliday, The Making of the Second Cold War (London: Verso, 1986), 19.

1 David Dimbleby and David Reynolds, An Ocean Apart (London: Vintage, 1989), 291.