82 Chapter 2
British Ministry of Defense contended that this troop movement had nothing to do
with the unconfirmed reports of border fortification. Instead, the ship display was
part of a planned military exercise announced almost a year prior. Under continued
protestations by the Guatemalan government over various actions in and around
British Honduras, the British foreign minister requested the opportunity to reply to
Guatemala’s accusations before an assembly of the Organization of American States.
His request was denied on April 16, as most thought the address would only further
enflame cross-border tensions.
Coding changes: End Date changed from April 20, 1972.
MID#360
Dispute Number: 360
Date(s): April 1975 to November 29, 1975
Participants: 90 Guatemala/200 United Kingdom
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Although the British had administered the territory of Belize for over a
century, Guatemala claimed it from 1945, even declaring Belize part of Guatemala
and the people of Belize Guatemalan in its constitution. By the early 1970s Belize
was self-governing except on matters of self-defense, which Britain provided. Belize
requested the British either remain or guarantee protection from Guatemalan attempts
to seize its territory indefinitely, neither of which the British wanted. Britain and
Guatemala entered talks over the future of Belize. Guatemala offered to drop its claim
over the entire territory of Belize in exchange for the southern quarter of Belize, which
was believed to have offshore oil deposits.
In July 1975 British-Guatemalan talks broke down. Guatemala began to tighten its
control of the border and jam British radio, and its forces sank a Belizean tanker and
seized the captain and three crew members. Britain asked the UN General Assem-
bly to pass a resolution calling for self-determination for Belize. In early October
Guatemalan president Sandoval Alarcon said that Guatemala would not allow Beliz-
ean independence even if it cost Guatemalan lives, and later that month Guatemala
increased its military presence along the border. On November 5 Britain reinforced
its military presence in Belize. Two days later Guatemala threatened to take Belize by
force and to break diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom. Guatemala rejected a UN
offer to arbitrate. On November 20 the UN Trusteeship Council adopted a resolution
calling for both parties to cooperate, and on November 21 the UN General Assembly
Dependent Territories Committee voted in favor of independence for Belize. British
Foreign Minister Edward Rowlands and British ambassador to the UN Ivor Richards
visited Belize and Guatemala in late November, and on November 29 Britain and
Guatemala agreed to hold talks in February of the following year. Both sides withdrew
troops from the border. On December 8 the UN General Assembly passed Resolution
3432, which called for the disputants to continue talks. The talks resumed in April
1976 and continued into 1978.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from October 1975.