British Honduras CLAIM PRESSED BY GUATEMALA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29841, 6 June 1962, Page 9

British Honduras CLAIM PRESSED BY GUATEMALA

[Bp

FRANK TAYLOR

in the London "Daily Telegraph’’}

(Reprinted bp Arrarpement)

BELIZE (British Honduras), April 19.—Every day, the airwaves over the hot, tangled jungle known as the Peten. separating Guatemala and British Honduras, carry the ;same cajoling, slightly sneering message: "How much ! longer do you want to re:main a colony? What has ,Britain done for you since the hurricane came? Turn ■to Guatemala and we will look after you and your children.”

The dials of the small, crackling radios in hundreds of wood and tin homes in Belize, the capital of British Honduras, are switched from the Guatemalan waveband to the local Government-run station and the noise of subversion is replaced by calypso music or an 'educational” talk taken from the 8.8. C. In recent months the Guatemalan broadcasts against Britain have been intensified, following a parallel course in the trumpetings of President Ydigoras, who has declared that the territory known as British Honduras really belongs to Guatemala and will be taken "by reason or force.” Conference The dispute, which has jerked into life (usually at the instigation of President Ydigoras), with increasing frequency over the last four years, will come to something of a climax on Monday when, for the first time, Britain and Guatemala will face each other across a conference table. From what I can see the success of the talks to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, depend entirely on a modified attitude by the Guatemalans. As a member of the British Honduran Government pointed out: "Britain can put its case in 30 seconds flat. After that it will be just as much talk.” This may be minimising the issue a little too much, but it puts the feelings of the Government and people of British Honduras in a nutshell. There is no doubt in the minds of British Hondurans on the question of Guatemala’s claim. Apart from its border, the colony has nothing in common with Guatemala and the people want

to keep it that way. Traditionally and racially the two countries are as far apart as Spain and Wales (which is roughly the same size as British Honduras). While the predominant race in Guatemala is Spanish-Indian, or mestizo, the majority of men and women in British Honduras are of Negro descent. Guatemalan Case Guatemala maintains that the territory of British Honduras. in the early days of Spanish colonialism, belonged to the captaincy-general of Guatemala, that the rights of Spain passed to the Central American Federation in 1823. and on the federation’s dissolution in 1838 to the Republic of Guatemala. It is more likely, however, that the territory was under the jurisdiction of the cap-taincy-general of Yucatan in Mexico, and one of Britain’s points in dispute is that if any Spanish-American State succeeded to the rights of Spain in this area it was not Guatemala but Mexico —a point not lost on Mexico who. in the event of a take-over of British Honduras by Guatemala, could be expected to join the fight. In the past, Mexico has put friendship with Britain above party squabbles over ancient boundary lines and has agreed to respect the existing situation. Britain’s case is far less complicated. In 1638 a group of shipwrecked British sailors landed on the coast. The settlement grew into a logwood-cutting port and agreements were signed under which Spain granted the Englishmen the right to continue their operations. In 1859 a treaty was signed between Britain and Guatemala establishing the boundary. More recently Guatemala contended that one of the articles of this treaty was cleverly worded by Britain to cover an alleged southward extension of British Honduras and that therefore the treaty should be declared null and void. Offer Not Accepted i Legally, there is a massive point in Britain’s favour in I' the dispute. The Colonia! Office has repeatedly offered to take the issue before the International Court at The Hague. But Guatemala has not accepted the proposal. As the day for the talks approaches the people in Belize show little enthusiasm in the matter. Here, there is perhaps less nationalistic spirit than in any other of Britain’s remaining colonies. Although there is mueh talk among the legislators of approaching independence, this is not reflected by the populace. True, the Britlah-GuaU-

malan dispute has permeated local polities to a certain degree. But one cannot help feeling that the politicians have whipped up the issue to spur Britain into a decision on the amount of aid she is willing to grant as a result of the devastation caused last November by Hurricane '■Hattie."

Similarly, on the other side of the border the Guatemalans do not generally share their President’s fervour. A prominent businessman said: “Ninety out of 100 Guatemalans, when pinned down, will say that British Honduras is really ours. But they really don't want it. I certainly don’t think they would fight for it.” It is Britain's task at the talks to persuade President Ydigoras’s delegation that if only British Honduras can proceed peacefully towards independence she might then gradually gravitate towards the Central American system if only for economic reasons, but always as an independent State. The Central American republics are nearing full agreement on a common market of their own and it would be of great advantage if British Honduras could eventually join. Compromise Plan But President Ydigoras has demanded that if the country is not handed over wholesale then it should be allowed to become “associated” with Guatemala with that country exercising authority over the economy and foreign policy. This, of course, is also rejected. The composition of the Guatemalan delegation to the Puerto Rico talks might be taken as an indication that President Ydigoras is, after ail. ready to ease the pressure. There are seven on the delegation, five of whom are members of the Belize Council, an all-party body set up some years ago by the Guatemalan Government and one which has followed a far milder line on the issue than the President. But, the President being the shrewd man he is, it could also be said that he lias delibera ely insisted on a “multi-

party” delegation so that, should the talks fail, he will be able to spread the blame. It is not held likely that Guatemala would seek to annex British Honduras by military means, although there have been border incidents. Hondurans’ Plight As the dispute g; es on over its head British Honduras, a poor country which imports more than it exports, and which does not balance its budget, is struggling desperately to get out of the toils of devastation and despair left by Hurricane "Hattie.” In the capital it left damage totalling up to £l2m; in the town of Stann Creek the figure was £sm; thousands of acres of valuable forest land and crops were laid waste; 262 people died. The British Honduran Government is pressing the Colonia] Office for a decision on the aid to be allocated for rehabilitation, including a new capital to be built 50 miles inland. In turn, the Colonial Office has said it is pressing the Treasury. In the meantime 3000 men. women and children living in the refugee camp Known with bitter humour as Hattieville, and the most plaintive cry on the streets of Belize is that of a man asking a friend if he and his family can set up “home” in between the wood pilings on which the friend’s house is built. Little Concern Preoccupied as they are with rebuilding a life torn apart by nature it is perhaps not surprising that the people o’ British Honduras can find little time for concern over the man-made threat from across the wild Peten, There is a prevailing feeling in Belize that President Ydigoras’s rabid pronouncements about annexation are merely his political safetyvalve. used to divert attention from troubles within his own Government; therefore they do not merit too much notice. And besides, the hurricane season is approaching.