John O’Sullivan: Here is a non-rhetorical question about the Falklands War.

You were a great deal better connected than I was at the time — you were having dinners chez Thatcher, if I recall — so I ask in a spirit of genuine inquiry.

Suppose that the Thatcher govt. had cut an appeasement deal? Let’s make it a quite respectable one — dual citizenship for the Falklanders, stuff like that. Just suppose. In your opinion, would (a) the government have fallen?

(b) Mrs. Thatcher been removed by her party?