ANTI-BRITISH UNREST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26039, 16 February 1950, Page 5

ANTI-BRITISH UNREST

DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELIZE

CURRENCY DEVALUATION RESENTED

(Rec. 9 p.m.) BELIZE (British Honduras) Feb. 14.

Anti-British unrest over the devaluation of the British Honduras currency flared up to-day in several incidents bordering on violence. Angry crowds singing “God Bless America” marched through the streets of Belize after plans had been announced for the reception of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, on February 23.

The Government had proposed eliminating the singing of “God Save the King” if the people of Belize would refrain from singing “God Bless America.”

Some of the demonstrators seized Mr M. Wilson, a member of the Belize Municipel Council, who voted for the recent proposal to give Princess Alice the keys to the city. Mr Wilson was roughly handled, and forced to march under a United States flag to his home, which was stoned. Crowds also stoned the houses of two other councillors. A schoolteacher who chastised his pupils for singing “God Bless America” was chased, but escaped. Mr George Price, secretary of. the committee which is directing the antidevaluation campaign, finally succeeded in calming the demonstrators.

The British Honduras Legislature today passed a resolution calling on the British Government to allot a minimum of £1,000,000 to provide work for the colony’s unemployed. One member of the Legislature said the people were not disloyal to the Crown, but simply “hungry and dissatisfied.” They resented the rise in the cost of living which had occurred since devaluation. •