It was to turn out...

[cannonkuo]

Apparently, the Argentinians had now dropped their five demands and moved a considerable way from their previous position. Mr Haig thought there was a chance of a settlement on the lines we had been discussing, if we would agree to language about decolonization, subject to the wishes of the islanders, with perhaps one or two small changes in addition to make the proposals more palatable still. It was to turn out that this talk of decolonization held its own particular dangers, though we agreed to look at a draft. (The Downing Street Years, p.199)
Does it mean Haig's idea that there was a chance of a settlement?
Why didn't the writer use "it turned out that..." but "it was to turn out"?

 

[teechar]

It was to turn out that this talk of decolonization held its own particular dangers, though we agreed to look at a draft. (The Downing Street Years, p.199)
Does it mean Haig's idea that there was a chance of a settlement?

No, that "it" is a dummy subject.

Why didn't the writer use "it turned out that..." but "it was to turn out"?

"It turned out that" would mean that the speaker jumped to a later point in time after the "dangers" became apparent. "It was to turn out" means the speaker is still at that point in time when the discussions were taking place, but is talking about a later event.

 

[cannonkuo]

No, that "it" is a dummy subject.

"It turned out that" would mean that the speaker jumped to a later point in time after the "dangers" became apparent. "It was to turn out" means the speaker is still at that point in time when the discussions were taking place, but is talking about a later event.

So, "it was to turn out that..." means the speaker was sure about what was going to happen but what had not happened yet.
Is my interpretation correct?

 

[teechar]

Basically, yes.