SHOWING THE FLAG

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26708, 1 March 1948, Page 7

SHOWING THE FLAG

MARINES ON GUATEMALA BORDER BRITISH FORCE IN HONDURAS N.Z.P.A.—Copyright Rec. 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 28. The H.M.S. Sheffield has arrived at Belize (the capital of British Honduras) and to-day a detachment from the cruiser paraded in Belize in battledress, and Admiral Sir William Tennant conferred with the Governor, Sir Edward Hawkesworth. An official statement said the ship “is staying here as a precautionary measure against any frontier incident.” Marines and sailors from the Sheffield established bren gun entrenchments around Belize airfield and harbour. The colony’s Home Guard has been placed on the alert. The Governor said that everything was calm and under control. “The whole native population is behind us.” Sir William Tennant, commanding the British forces, sent a detachment of marines to the Guatemala border to “ show the flag.” The cruiser Devonshire will arrive at Belize tomorrow. The' Guatemalan Government said the British had despatched a „ third cruiser, the Sparrow, to the waters of British Honduras. The Guatemalan Consul told the United Press correspondent: “I believe the same thing will happen here as with Chile and Argentina.” He was referring to the overt, acts by those countries to assert their rights to Antarctic territories claimed by Britain. The Consul said later, however, that the sending of British warships was ridiculous. Guatemala was ready to submit its claim to the International Court of Justice. The Mayor of Guatemala City, Senor Mendez, announced that the Guatemalan meat shipment to Britain had been cancelled as a protest against the despatch of warships to British Honduras. The chairman of thf> Guatemalan Congress, Senor Castillo, said he had received petitions from individuals and organisations demanding that Guatemala break off diplomatic relations with Britain. Meanwhile, a noticeable chang'e .has come over the tone of Guatemalan claims since the Sheffield arrived. The Guatemalan spokesman is now energetically protesting. that there had never been any serious threat to try to invade the colony. The Guatemalan Consul * at Belize said the whole affair “was an unnecessary scare,” The Food Ministry spokesman said the Minister had received no confirmation of the report that Guatemala had stopped meat shipments to Britain. The total shipments were small.