Britain Cals On Guatemala To Desist

Northern Advocate, 10 March 1948, Page 5

Britain Cals On Guatemala To Desist

LONDON. Tue. (11 a.m.).—The British Government, in a third Note within a week to Guatemala, suggested that unless Guatemala was prepared to submit the dispute about British Honduras to the International Court of Justice she should desist i'rem a policy which could only impede good relations.

The Foreign Office said the latest Note answered two Guatemalan Notes dated January 21 and February 7, in the tirst of which the Guatemalan Government declared that it might consider Britain's plan for emigration to, and development of British Honduras, if effected, as "an unfriendly act." DEVELOPMENT WILL PROCEED

Reuters diplomatic correspondent comments that the two Guatemalan Notes were awaiting a reply when the Cabinet took action to counter a possible incursion from Guatemala.

The British reply added that Britain firmly intended to carry out arrangements to develop British Honduras and rejected categorically a suggestion that the Guatemalan Government had a right to obstruct development plans.

CALLS FOR STRONG MEASURES The United Press correspondent in Guatemala City says the Opposition party leader (Senor Jorge Troielio) today called on the Government to enforce its claim on British Honduras by breaking diplomatic relations with Britain and placing an embargo on all British imports.

Senor Troielio, who is a former Finance Minister, declared that the Government should “avenge the insult to its dignity” caused by the arrival of British warships at Belize.