Includes index. Includes maps of: South Atlantic and Part of Antarctica; Argentine Republic; Falkland Islands; Malvina Islands; Reinel, 1522-1523; [Falkland Islands, 1527]; [Malvina Islands, c. 1536-1545]; [Malvina Islands, 1541]; [Malvina Islands, 1562]; [Malvina Islands, c. 1828]; [Malvina Islands, 1841].

Preface -- 1. Introduction -- The Falkland archipelago: Las Islas Malvinas -- Land and coastline -- Climate -- Vegetation -- Wildlife -- Economy -- The Falkland Islands Company -- Society -- 2. Who discovered the islands? -- Early discoverers and explorers -- Later discoverers and explorers -- 3. The Falklands come of age -- European colonial rivalry in the early eighteenth century -- The plot thickens: attempts to destroy Spain's colonial monopoly -- France settles the islands but returns them to Spain -- Britain attempts to settle the islands -- Spain ejects the British from the islands -- Diplomatic crisis over Port Egmont -- War is averted: a King's honor is rescued -- 4. British might makes right -- Argentina inherits the islands from Spain -- U.S.-Argentine conflict over the Malvinas -- Britain takes the islands by force -- Argentina protests in vain -- Rejection of Argentine claims against the United States -- 5. Britain strengthens its hold on the islands -- Rosas and the islands -- Britain establishes a government in the Falklands -- Sheep take over the islands -- Anglo-Argentine relations improve after 1852 -- 6. The pot begins to boil -- Anglo-Argentine relations begin to weaken -- The postage-stamp controversy over the Falklands -- Perón attacks the British economic predominance over Argentina -- The Falklands question in the O.A.S.: the rise of the anticolonialism theme -- 7. The Falklands/Malvinas question in the United Nations -- The problem reaches the United Nations -- Resolution 2065 is passed -- Operation Cóndor -- 8. Britain and Argentina try bilateral negotiation -- First visit of a high British official to the islands -- Why Lord Chalfont's mission failed -- An agreement on communications and transportation -- 9. Negotiations become more difficult -- Britain delays negotation and Argentina becomes impatient -- Oil troubles the water and Argentina becomes more impatient -- The Shackleton mission heightens the conflict. Anglo-Argentine relations continue downhill -- 10. Margaret Thatcher takes over -- The year 1979 begins auspiciously -- The leaseback concept is suggested and rejected -- Britain gives up the initiative -- Contingency planning becomes more important -- The New York talks of February 1982 lead nowhere -- 11. The Falklands break into world headlines -- The South Georgia question emerges -- The Falkland government tries to halt Davidoff's undertaking -- Argentina challenges Britain in South Georgia -- The South Georgia confrontation leads to war -- Mediation attempts begin immediately, but fail -- 12. Epilogue: an evaluation -- The United States and the Falklands/Malvinas conflict -- Britain and the Falklands/Malvinas conflict -- Argentina and the Falklands/Malvinas conflict -- A brief chronology of the Falklands/Malvinas.