Who knew? Reagan taped chats with world leaders, including Thatcher apology over Grenada invasion

Newly released White House tape transcripts reveal how president Ronald Reagan sought to pacify an angry British prime minister Margaret Thatcher after the US invaded Grenada without giving her advance warning.

The secret recordings from the White House Reagan's conversation with Thatcher and other world leaders were discovered by author William Doyle, who told the New York Post: "Until now, taping was thought to have stopped in the Nixon era. I discovered that was not the case."

In October 1983, the US president ordered American troops to invade the Caribbean island, part of the British Commonwealth, after the overthrow and murder of the prime minister, Maurice Bishop. The invasion was strongly criticised by Britain, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.

While fighting was still going on, Reagan called his closest international ally to apologise.

"If I were there, Margaret, I'd throw my hat in the door before I came in," said Reagan as an opening gambit. "There's no need to do that," was the curt answer from Thatcher.

The president went on at length to explain that the US was afraid of telling anyone about the invasion in advance, including those Caribbean states that had requested intervention, because of fears of a spy.

"We told them that we were planning, but we were so afraid of this source and what it would do; it could almost abort a mission, with the lives that could have endangered.