A NEW THREAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26707, 28 February 1948, Page 7

A NEW THREAT

’ GUATEMALAN LANDINGS IN BRITISH HONDURAS EARLY TREATY DENOUNCED N.Z.P.A.—Copyright Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 26. The British Foreign Office says that extremist elements in Guatemala might attempt to land in British Honduras (Central America). To meet this threat the British cruiser Sheffield left Cartagena (Colombia) at short notice yesterday for Belize, the capital of British Honduras. The Foreign Office spokesman said Britain did not suspect the Guatemalan Government itself preparing an expedition. It was feared, however, that the anti-British campaign in Guatemala, which strongly backed the' claims of Argentina and Chile against Britain, would foster the extremist elements. The spokesman said that, as in the case of the Antarctic problem, Britain proposed that the International Court of Justice should settle the dispute which went back more than half a century. Guatemala had made unacceptable counter-proposels about the form of considerations which the court would be asked to judge, and the matter remained indecisive. Guatemala is involved in a territorial dispute with Britain over British Honduras which Guatemala ceded to Britain by treaty in 1858. Guatemala has denounced the treaty, claiming that Britain has not lived up to the compensatory provisions. A New York message says that a Guatemala spokesman said “ unofficially ” to-night that Guatemala would probably protest formally to Britain about the despatch of the cruiser and said it was a “hostile act by tne British Government.” The spokesman added that reports that guerrillas from Guatemala planned to seize British Honduras were “ absolutely false.” Guatemala claims ownership of British Hondura’s on the basis of the treaty signed in 1858 under which Britain was granted sovereignty over the area, Guatemala claims that Britain agreed in exchange to share the cost Of the construction of a coastal highway in Guatemala, but that the highway was never built. Periodically Guatemala has demanded the return of British Honduras and monetary damage for the non-con-struction of the road. The New York Times, commenting on the sending of the British cruiser Sheffield to British Honduras says: “Whether Guatemala would gam by taking over this area, whose population is largely English-speaking, and not rich, is a question, but the impulse to try is understandable. The * presence of the Sheffield in Belize harbour will not repress the impulse. It may indeed seem to the Guate- t rnalans and others an outmoded nineteenth century gesture.’.’ The Guatemalan Foreign Minister said to-night that Guatemala was willing to mediate the case with Britain and added: “ Guatemala has faith in her rights and the justice of her cause.”