Editing James Callaghan (section)

==Wilson government, 1974–1976==
===Foreign secretary, 1974–1976===
[[File:James Callaghan and Max van der Stoel (1975).jpg|thumb|Callaghan and Dutch foreign minister [[Max van der Stoel]] in 1975]]

When Wilson won the next [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|general election]] and returned as prime minister in March 1974, he appointed Callaghan as [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]].

In July 1974 a crisis erupted in [[Cyprus]], when there was [[1974 Cypriot coup d'état|a coup d'etat]] on the island, sponsored by the [[Greek junta|Greek military junta]], which installed the pro-Greek puppet leader [[Nikos Sampson]] as the President, who threatened to unify the island with Greece. Immediately [[Cypriot intercommunal violence|inter-communal violence]] broke out between the island's Greek and Turkish communities, and Turkey responded by [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|launching an invasion]] of the island to protect the Turkish community. Britain was involved in the dispute as a signatory of the [[Treaty of Guarantee (1960)|1960 Treaty of Guarantee]]. Britain sent troops alongside the [[United Nations|UN]] to prevent further advancement of Turkish troops. Callaghan led diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire, and called on both sides to attend tripartite meetings on the crisis with Britain. On 22 July a ceasefire was called. The tripartite talks got underway, and in August an agreement was reached to make the ceasefire permanent, with a [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|buffer zone]] patrolled by the UN between the Greek and Turkish controlled parts of the island.{{sfn|Conroy|2006|pp=77–86}} As of {{currentyear}} the island [[Cyprus problem|remains partitioned]].

Labour had entered office with the policy of renegotiating the terms of the United Kingdom's membership of the [[European Community]], and then holding a referendum on remaining in the EC on these terms. Callaghan was put in charge of these negotiations. When the talks concluded, Callaghan led [[Labour government 1974–79|the Cabinet]] in declaring the new terms acceptable and he supported a successful "Yes" vote in the [[1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum|1975 European Community referendum]]. Callaghan had formerly been on the [[Euroscepticism|eurosceptic]] wing of the Labour Party, however, during the negotiations and referendum he converted to be a pro-European.{{sfn|Conroy|2006|pp=74–86}} He was awarded the [[Freedom of the City]] of [[Cardiff]] on 16 March 1975.<ref>{{cite web |title=HONORARY FREEMAN OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF CARDIFF |url=https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Lord-Mayor/honorary-freedom/Documents/freedom%20roll%20list%20June%202014.pdf |website=Cardiff City Council |access-date=1 November 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727071227/https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Lord-Mayor/honorary-freedom/Documents/freedom%20roll%20list%20June%202014.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1975, Callaghan flew out to [[Uganda]] in order to bring home the British lecturer [[Denis Hills]], who had been sentenced to death by Uganda's dictator [[Idi Amin]] for writing a book critical of him. After an appeal for clemency by both the [[Elizabeth II|Queen]] and the prime minister, Amin agreed to release Hills on the condition that Callaghan appeared in person to take him back to the UK.{{sfn|Conroy|2006|pp=77–86}}

Also in 1975, [[Argentina]] made territorial claims on the [[Falkland Islands]]. In response, Callaghan sent [[HMS Endurance (1967)|HMS ''Endurance'']] to the islands, in order to send a message to Argentina that Britain would defend them. Seven years later, in 1982, Callaghan criticised the government of [[Margaret Thatcher]] for its decision to withdraw ''Endurance'' from the islands; a decision which contributed to the [[1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands|Argentine invasion]] that year.{{sfn|Conroy|2006|pp=77–86}}

====1976 leadership election====
{{main|1976 Labour Party leadership election}}
Barely two years after beginning his second spell as prime minister, Wilson announced his resignation on 16 March 1976. Although this came as a surprise to most people, Callaghan had been tipped off by Wilson several days in advance. Callaghan was the favourite to win the subsequent leadership election; although he was the oldest candidate, at 64 years old, he was also the most experienced and least divisive. Popularity with all parts of the Labour movement saw him through the ballot of Labour MPs to win the leadership vote. On 5 April 1976, Callaghan became Prime Minister.{{sfn|Conroy|2006|pp=89–90}}