Decolonization and the border dispute with Guatemala British Honduras

1965 map of british honduras

british honduras faced 2 obstacles independence: british reluctance until 1960s allow citizens govern themselves, , guatemala s complete intransigence on long-standing claim entire territory. 1961, united kingdom willing let colony become independent , 1964 controlled defence, foreign affairs, internal security, , terms , conditions of public service. on 1 june 1973, colony s name changed belize in anticipation of independence. stalemate in protracted negotiations between uk , guatemala on future status of belize led belizeans after 1975 seek international community s assistance in resolving issues associated independence. after belize became independent in 1981, however, territorial dispute remained unsettled.

the territorial dispute s origins lay in 18th-century treaties in great britain acceded spain s assertion of sovereignty while british settlers continued occupy sparsely settled , ill-defined area. 1786 convention of london, affirmed spanish sovereignty never renegotiated, spain never attempted reclaim area after 1798.

at centre of guatemala s oldest claim 1859 treaty between united kingdom , guatemala. britain s viewpoint, treaty merely settled boundaries of area under british dominion. guatemala had alternative view agreement stated guatemala give territorial claims under conditions, including construction of road guatemala caribbean coast. uk never built road, , guatemala said repudiate treaty in 1884 never followed on threat.

the dispute appeared have been forgotten until 1930s, when government of general jorge ubico claimed treaty invalid because road had not been constructed. britain argued because neither short-lived central american federation (1821–39) nor guatemala had ever exercised authority in area or protested british presence in 19th century, british honduras under british sovereignty. in constitution of 1945, however, guatemala stated british honduras twenty-third department of guatemala.

in february 1948, guatemala threatened invade , forcibly annex territory, , british responded deploying 2 companies 2nd battalion gloucestershire regiment. since 1954 succession of military , right-wing governments in guatemala whipped nationalist sentiment, incursions in 1957 , 1958.

belize , guatemala

negotiations between britain , guatemala began again in 1961, elected representatives of british honduras had no voice in these talks. result, in 1965 united states president lyndon johnson agreed mediate, , proposed draft treaty gave guatemala control on newly independent country in areas including internal security, defence, , external affairs. parties in british honduras, however, denounced proposals.

a series of meetings, begun in 1969, ended abruptly in 1972 when tensions flared on possible guatamalan invasion. talks resumed in 1973, broke off again in 1975 when tensions flared once more. between 1975 , 1981, belizean , british governments, frustrated @ dealing military-dominated regimes in guatemala, began state case self-determination @ international forums such meeting of heads of commonwealth of nations governments in jamaica, conference of ministers of nonaligned movement in peru, , @ meetings of united nations (un).

the support of nonaligned movement proved crucial , assured success @ un. latin american governments supported guatemala, cuba, mexico, panama , nicaragua later declared unequivocal support independent belize. finally, in november 1980, guatemala isolated, un passed resolution demanded independence of belize, territory intact, before next session of un in 1981.

a last attempt made reach agreement guatemala prior independence of belize , proposal, called heads of agreement, initialled on 11 march 1981. however, guatemalan government refused ratify agreement , withdrew negotiations, , opposition in belize engaged in violent demonstrations against it. prospect of independence celebrations in offing, opposition s morale fell , independence came belize on 21 september 1981, without agreement guatemala.