710.Consultation(2)/580
The Chargé in Guatemala (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 13.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that I had an informal conversation with the British Minister79 yesterday regarding the results of the Habana Conference insofar as they affected the Belize question.80
The Minister did not appear to be greatly perturbed at the measures adopted at Habana, or at the Guatemalan reaction thereto (see Despatch No. 1412 of August 2, 194081). He seemed to be pleased that the Conference had been such a success in spite of German efforts to sabotage it.82 With particular reference to Belize he said that the measures taken at the Habana Conference obviously would not affect Belize if the war should end in a stalemate or a British victory. If Great Britain should lose, Belize would not much matter in any case, and it was better that it should be in Guatemala’s custody with its de jure situation unchanged rather than ceded to Guatemala by German dictate, or otherwise used for German ends. He said that he did not greatly fear that Guatemala would march into Belize unless Great Britain were defeated, but that he intended gently to warn the Foreign Minister in this connection on his return from Habana.
The Minister added that he had not heard anything from his Government regarding its reaction to the Habana measures insofar as they affected Belize.
Respectfully yours,
- John Hurleston Leche.↩
- See section entitled “Dispute between Guatemala and the United Kingdom regarding British Honduras (Belize),” pp. 416 ff.↩
- Not printed.↩
- See section entitled “Attempts by the German Government to obstruct cooperation on neutrality measures among the American Republics,” vol. i, pp. 787 ff.↩