226. The Council wi\s profoundly right to rcassc‘rt those principles in resolution SO2 ( 1082). which fr)rm\ 22’7. For the United States, the conflict continues to have il SPeci~ll poignancy. We do not take, and have never taken. any position on the underlying claims. 13rit:lin is iI country to which we are bound by unique ties of friendship, values and alliance. And Argen- tiil:I is also iIn old friend. a country of immigrants and QZttlcrS like 0111‘ own. :I country with which we share the enormous human and national potential of the New LV/orld experience. 2%. That ;I conflict of such dimensions should take pl~e and that it should occur here in the western hcmisphcrc. whose countries have long shared a par- tic\llar commitment to each other, to their mutual welfare :lnd to pence. causes us the deepest concern. This conflict, however urgent, cannot be permitted 1~) obscure the common engagement of all American States to the rule of law and to the well-being of this hcmisphcrc. 229. It was natural that the United States should make :I particular effort to help Argentina and Britain find ;I solution. That effort began before 2 April, when we offered to the two sides our good offices to help find a solution to the South Georgia incident. :!30, After 2 April, both President Galtieri and Prime Minister Thatcher asked the United States to see whether it could be of assistance. At President lieugan’s direction, Secretary of State Haig under- took two rounds of intense discussions in both cap- itals. Finally, on 27 April, as prospects for more intense hostilities arose, we put forward a proposal. It represented our best estimate of what the two par- ties could reasonably bc expected to accept. It was fbundcd scluarcly on resolution 502 ( 1982) by providing 