the contempt of the present British Government fol the law and for their own stan&trds of conduct. British aggression, thcrcforo. is not ;I struggle for the defence of the rule of law, ;IS they claim. but an uttcmpt to rcstorc the law of empire. 84. The British Government has declared. in the words of the Prime Minister herself. that it is neces- sary to punish those who seek territorial advantage by force. It is thereby seeking to justify a priori the escalation of military action against Argentina. If the circumstances were not so tragic. such a declaration would be amusing, since, if this principle were to be applied. no citizen of the United Kingdom could go anywhere in the world without exposing himself to the punishment to which the head of the British Cov- ernment refers. The British Empire extended its colonial domination around the world through the brutal, systematic and calculated use of force, com- mitting innumerable acts against the dignity of peo- ples. How can we, in Latin America, not react to these acts of aggressive folly by Her Britannic Maj- esty’s Government against the Argentine Republic! 85. The attitude of the United Kingdom seems to be that, assured of impunity for its warlike behaviour and shielded by the privilege of permanent member- ship of the Council, it is determined to prevent speedy and effective efforts to achieve peace. 86. The Venezuelan Government has condemned the British escalation and it condemns the new aggres- sions. The loss of innocent young lives, Argentine and British, in the South Atlantic because of the anachronistic political stubbornness of the present Government of the United Kingdom must be halted. 87. We dispatched a mission of solidarity and peace to Europe to inform various democratic countries in the European Community of Venezuela’s position 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a statement of opposition to the British government's actions during the Falklands War, with a focus on the moral and political implications of their behavior. The author is critical of the British government's use of force and its attempt to justify its actions as a defense of the rule of law. The text also mentions the loss of innocent lives and the need for peace.

**Category**
International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief