Page 124 - Conflitti Militari e Popolazioni Civili - Tomo II

626 XXXIV Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

helicopters.
i) The post office operated under an Argentine chief with the help of local personnel, and
provided an efficient service until 14 June, but limited to the delivery and reception of
mail to be transported by Argentine Air Force planes which, due to the natural difficulties
and operational requirements, only destined a limited space for the mailbags.
j) The handling of economic and financial matters was characterized by a series of initial
difficulties given the need to harmonize the circulation of the Malvinas pound (of exclu-
sively local use), with that of the pound sterling, the Argentine peso and even the U.S.
dollar. An initial cash proof was implemented, including a verification and analysis of
the existing securities and documents, during which the Secretary and his Assistant were
maintained in their positions; the next steps were a coordinated effort by the Secretary
of Finance and his Argentine assistants to control on a daily basis the evolution of the
Treasury with regular cash proof exercises, together with a very careful and adjusted ma-
nagement of the funds allocated by the National Government, which permitted a smooth
handover at the end of the operations. All in all, in the course of two and a half months the
following operations were completed: the payment of fifty-one real estate leases (for hou-
ses, and other installations), thirty-five vehicle rentals, five hundred purchases of different
consumer goods, three hundred and fifty purchases of fuel and lubricants, fifteen cases of
lodging and food expenses (due to visits of Argentine persons or other personnel coming
to the islands but not related to operational elements), twenty-five payments of indemnifi-
cation (there were at least another thirty cases under study or pending consideration as at
14 June), and payments for salaries and overtime made to personnel from different areas
of the government. 38
k) As far as the legal aspects are concerned, efforts were made to maintain the existing
judicial, notarial and registration structure, replacing only those legal bodies which, due
to their dependence with respect to Great Britain, were absolutely irreconcilable with an
Argentine administration, and the local residents were given, as far as possible, the op-
tion to demand the application of the previous or the Argentine laws as might be more
convenient to their interests. Furthermore, the Military Government issued two edicts and
thirteen decrees about such aspects as organization of the government and appointment of
its members, appointment of the chief of police and of doctors for the hospital, creation of
the military cemetery, management of the air services, payment of indemnifications, etc.
A Civil and Personal Capacity Registry was created, headed by a Director General, for the
registration of all acts and events related to the civil status and capacity of people. Religious
freedom was respected, the population was not obligated to swear allegiance to Argentina,
respect was instituted for the personal convictions and working conditions of the people. No
collective penalties were applied, there were only a few counterclaims, and detentions were
implemented in some cases under benign conditions.
These measured were instituted with total normality between the government and the is-

38 At the end of the Operations it was possible to save the Military Government’s Treasury and documentation,
which was shipped on board of hospital ship BAHÍA PARAÍSO, but the local currency and the pounds ster-
ling were left in Mr. Rowland’s hands. The whole government action was later approved by Argentine Court
of Accounts, after an examination of the relevant books and documentation. UNO.