Chancellor Philip Hammond DOESN'T mention the future of the Falkland Islands on trade trip to Argentina (though he does remind his hosts that Britain gave them football)

  • Philip Hammond became the first cabinet minister to visit Argentina in 16 years
  • His historic meeting with President Mauricio Macri was primarily about trade
  • He had been urged to stand up for Falkland residents but islands not mentioned
  • But he did stress evidence of previous trade with Britain, including football

By Larisa Brown Political Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Chancellor Philip Hammond did not raise the thorny issue of the Falkland Islands during his visit to Argentina.

Mr Hammond became the first British Cabinet minister to visit the South American country in 16 years this week.

The Chancellor met with President Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires for trade talks during the historic visit.

He had been urged to stand up for the people of the Falkland Islands during the visit, but the issue was not raised by either side during the meeting, local sources said.

The Chancellor (right) met with President Mauricio Macri (left) in Buenos Aires for trade talks during the historic visit. But the matter of the future of the Falkand Islands did not come up 

The Chancellor (right) met with President Mauricio Macri (left) in Buenos Aires for trade talks during the historic visit. But the matter of the future of the Falkand Islands did not come up 

Pictured: Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Faurie (right) shakes hands with Chancellor Philip Hammond in Buenos Aires 

Pictured: Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Faurie (right) shakes hands with Chancellor Philip Hammond in Buenos Aires 

Mr Hammond had been urged to stand up for the people of the Falkland Islands during the visit, but the issue was not raised by either side during the meeting, local sources said. Pictured: The Chancellor with Foreign Affairs Minister Faurie

Mr Hammond had been urged to stand up for the people of the Falkland Islands during the visit, but the issue was not raised by either side during the meeting, local sources said. Pictured: The Chancellor with Foreign Affairs Minister Faurie

Relations between Britain and Argentina have historically been dominated by the issue of the Falklands, which has been a British overseas territory since 1833.

Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands.

The visit, part of a four-day trip to South America, was designed to revive trade links that never recovered after the 1982 Falklands War.

The Chancellor led a trade delegation including representatives from the London Stock Exchange, Crossrail International and the Bank of England.

No British Cabinet minister has visited Argentina since 2001, when Tony Blair made a symbolic stopover at the Iguazu Falls on the border with Brazil.

The visit, part of a four-day trip to South America, was designed to revive trade links that never recovered after the 1982 Falklands War. Pictured: The Chancellor with Foreign Affairs Minister Faurie

The visit, part of a four-day trip to South America, was designed to revive trade links that never recovered after the 1982 Falklands War. Pictured: The Chancellor with Foreign Affairs Minister Faurie

In a 2013 referendum Falklanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory. Pictured: The Chancellor with Foreign Affairs Minister Faurie

In a 2013 referendum Falklanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory. Pictured: The Chancellor with Foreign Affairs Minister Faurie

Mr Hammond did, however, stress how strong relations between the two countries once were - and included the transmission of football to Argentina. Pictured: President Macri and Chancellor Hammond

Mr Hammond did, however, stress how strong relations between the two countries once were - and included the transmission of football to Argentina. Pictured: President Macri and Chancellor Hammond

Relations have thawed following the election of President Macri, who has adopted a less confrontational stance over the Falklands.

The Falkland Islands are internally self-governing, but Britain is responsible for their defence and foreign affairs and came to their aid during an invasion by Argentina in 1982.

In a 2013 referendum Falklanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory. 

In a speech clearly designed to placate his Argentine hosts, Mr Hammond said: ‘We can recapture the spirit of the age when the UK was Argentina’s primary trading partner.

‘The evidence of that time is still all around us: in your schools, in your railways, in your universities, in your football teams. There, I said it.’ 

How Britain brought the beautiful game to Argentina in the 1800s

The beautiful game was brought to Argentina by British immigrants at the end of the 19th century. 

The first league in the country was inaugurated in 1891, which makes it the fifth-oldest league among FIFA members in the world - after England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. 

There was a well-established British community in Argentina by the 1860s, with many coming to work on the railways - owned by Britain - that were operated in the South American country.

As the British had a habit of doing everywhere else in the world, they brought their sports with them. 

Though cricket does not seem to have appealed to the Argentine heart, many pastimes did - including rugby, horse riding, tennis and, of course, football. 

In 1867 Thomas and James Hogg established the Buenos Aires Football Club, which was allowed to play on the cricket field used by the Buenos Aires Cricket Club.

In the 1880s, a Glaswegian schoolteacher named Alexander Watson Hutton began teaching football at St Andrew's School in Buenos Aires.

Known as the father of Argentine football, in 1884 he founded the Buenos Aires English High School and persisted in teaching the ways of the kicking game. 

Later, in 1891, the Association Argentine Football League was established by Alex Lamont - and it was only a matter of time before other arrivals in the country, particularly the Italians, became hooked. 

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