Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, American Republics; Cuba 1961–1962; Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Volumes X/XI/XII, Microfiche Supplement

138. Memorandum from Read to McGeorge Bundy, July 31¹

July 31, 1963

SUBJECT

• Guatemalan Request for United States’ Mediation of British Honduras Dispute

After presenting his credentials to the President on July 10, the new Guatemalan Ambassador, Dr. Carlos Garcia-Bauer, made reference to a note requesting the friendly mediation of the United States in the British-Guatemalan dispute over British Honduras (Belize). Ambassador Garcia-Bauer stated this request had been conveyed to Ambassador John O. Bell, the American Ambassador to Guatemala. The President indicated he wished to see and consider this request.

Ambassador Bell had reported an informal request made by the Guatemalan Foreign Minister on July 1 for friendly United States mediation in the dispute. At the same time Ambassador Bell was given a copy of a sharp note delivered to the British Chargé in Guatemala. The note to the British protested the unilateral British action of convening on July 11 “constitutional” conversations with British Honduran representatives on the future political status of British Honduras without previously consulting Guatemala. The note stated that if the UN persisted in creating a new state at the expense of Guatemalan territory then Guatemala reserved the right to take measures, also unilaterally, deemed appropriate to Guatemalan interests. Actually the Foreign Minister gave Ambassador Bell a Memorandum (text enclosed) implying that the consequences of such British unilateral action posed a threat to stability in the Caribbean area and, therefore, he solicited the friendly mediation of the United States to bring about an “understanding” on this problem.

Shortly before the above events, British representatives at the Birch Grove meeting on June 29 between the President and Prime Minister Macmillan sought the Secretary’s views on United States assistance should complete independence be given to British Honduras. The Secretary subsequently requested Embassy London to convey the following views to HMG: 1) while appreciative of the British policy of moving its colonies as rapidly as feasible toward independence or self-determination, we wonder how independence can be accomplished quickly and smoothly in view of the complete lack of economic viability of British Honduras and the uncertainties of Guatemalan, and even Mexican, political attitudes; 2) we speculate whether independence will merely mean the shifting of economic liability from the UK to the US; 3) we feel an interim step, contributing partially to economic viability, might be some form of British Honduran association in the Central American Common Market, the political and economic consequences of which might facilitate an eventual solution to the dispute; and (4) since we firmly support the Central American Market, we would examine carefully how we could be helpful should British Honduras become associated with it and the political problems with Guatemala and Mexico substantially eased.

The Department considers that the United States should not offer to mediate the territorial dispute over British Honduras, which would appear to some as intervention in behalf of Guatemalan interests and as an impingement on the principle of self-determination. However, the Secretary had earlier agreed that we would be willing to explore separately with Guatemalan and British diplomatic representatives in Washington to see if areas of agreement exist with reference to economic development of British Honduras wherein the good offices of the United States could be usefully employed. While there has not yet been an opportunity to carry this out, we are hopeful that circumstances will eventually permit it. The British replied on July 13 to the Guatemalan note of July 1 that HMG desires to see fully implemented the recommendations for social and economic development agreed on at the tripartite talks in San Juan in April 1962. The note also suggested informal discussions with Guatemala after the London constitutional talks, which were concluded on July 22 and provided for full internal self-government as of January 1, 1964.

After Guatemala on July 24 broke diplomatic relations with Great Britain, the British asked us to protect their interests in Guatemala. Our response has been to point out the disadvantages to the United Kingdom and the United States of such a proposal. Instead we suggested that the United Kingdom and Guatemala keep contact through their consulates.

We assume that Guatemala’s request of July 1 for our mediation of the British Honduras dispute may no longer apply under the circumstances created by Guatemala’s severance on July 24 of diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. Ambassador Bell has recommended, and the Department concurs, that the President should not permit the Guatemalan Ambassador to involve him in this dispute. Meanwhile, the Department will continue to give close attention to the problem to determine what, if any, action we can take to ease the situation, looking toward a resumption of Guatemalan-British relations.

/s/ John A. McKesson
for
Benjamin H. Read

Executive Secretary

Enclosure

MEMORANDUM

(Delivered July 1 to Ambassador Bell by the Guatemalan Foreign Minister)

On this same date the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Guatemala delivered to the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Great Britain in this city the note of which a copy is attached, pointing out that in case Great Britain persists in her intention of creating a new state in Belize at the expense of Guatemalan territory, this country will remain at full liberty to take the measures most suited to its interests.

In view of the vital interest that an adequate solution of this matter has for the stability of the whole region of the Caribbean, which would be seriously upset if Belize is unilaterally given a supposed or actual autonomy without taking into account the well-founded aspirations of Guatemala, this government solicits the friendly mediation of the Government of the United States which, as it has done in other similar cases, can, if it so wishes, make an effort to bring about an understanding on this question.

1. Guatemalan request for U.S. mediation in British Honduras (Belize) dispute. Confidential. 3 pp. Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Guatemala, April–July 1963.