PRESENCE OF CRUISERS

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

PRESENCE OF CRUISERS

PROTEST TO UNITED NATIONS Rec. 11 p.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 28. Guatemala formally protested to-day to the United Nations against the presence of British cruisers in Guatemalan territory. The Guatemalan Foreign Minister telegraphed the Secretarygeneral of the United Nations, Mr Trygve Lie: “I submit to the United Nations the formal denunciation by my Government of armed provocation by Great Britain, who has sent to the Guatemalan territory of Belize the cruisers Sheffield, Devonshire and Sparrow (Jane’s Fighting Ships lists the Sparrow as a sloop, not a cruiser) under the pretext of ‘ protecting interests threatened by irresponsible crowds incited by Guateamala.’ This Government is maintaining a serene objection in the juridical field, emphatically denies the offensive charge of incitement and forcefully protests against the presence of these warships. Guatemala awaits the action of the United Nations in defence of justice.”

The Guatemalan President, Senor Juan Jose Arevalo, to-day called on the Uriited States to defend the interests of Latin-American nations in their territorial disputes with Britain.

The President issued a statement: “ The Guatemalan Government and people, who have been allied with the United States in all its international difficulties, address themselves to that great nation to say that the small Latin-American countries rely on its attitude of categorical and unquestioned reciprocity in favour of the interests of this Continent.” The statement added: “ If the American nations do not solve with unity, energy and speed the problems facing Chile, Argentina, and Guatemala, it would be evident that the Pan-Ameri-can system had become bankrupt.”