Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

216. Telegram 6190 From the Embassy in Guatemala to the Department of State¹

Guatemala City, November 6, 1975, 1811Z.

6190. Subj: Belize Conversation with President Laugerud.

1. At President Laugerud’s request I met with him at 10 am Nov 6 for a conversation which lasted one hour. With the greatest earnestness and frankness, the President pinpointed for me in great detail the exact location of all arms and troops in Guatemala. He assured me that the only reinforcements he has sent to the Peten were nine armored personnel carriers and one company of troops from the Guardia de Honor Brigade. No artillery or mortars were included. This reinforcement was sent to Poptun on Oct 31 and is to remain there. The President pointed out that this movement of APCs and infantry was the reinforcement which he had told me in our conversation of Oct 14 he felt obliged to make in the Peten following the initial British reinforcement in Belize. He had deliberately waited two weeks so as not to appear to be reacting hastily or impetuously.

2. The President said that he had promised me the troops would not be sent to the frontier and that he had in fact drawn elements of troops regularly stationed in the Peten away from the border to lessen the possibility of an incident. He was maintaining his word to me.

3. President Laugerud said he wanted to assure me solemnly and through me my government that he will not order an attack or any other military action against Belize as long as there remains the slightest possibility of a negotiated solution to the problem.

4. When I informed the President of the suggestions the U.S. is making to the UK of possible actions the British might consider taking to ease the situation (State 261984 and State 262111), Laugerud expressed deep appreciation. He accepted as a foregone conclusion that the UK res on Belize will be adopted by the UN. He emphasized that the restrictions which the resolution places on further negotiations leave Guatemala with the feeling of being “cornered.” The President said that if the UK could see its way clear to making an announcement simultaneously with the passage of its resolution that it was prepared to continue negotiations with Guatemala in which any sort of proposals could be discussed, it would greatly ease his problem of restraining public opinion and the hotheads in the Guatemalan armed forces.

Meloy

1. Summary: During a discussion on Guatemala’s deployment of troops to the Petén, President Laugerud assured Ambassador Meloy that he would not order any military action against Belize as long as the slightest possibility of a negotiated solution to the dispute still existed.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Latin America, 1974–77, Country Files, Box 4, Guatemala—State Department Telegrams, To SECSTATE—EXDIS. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Repeated Niact Immediate to Belize City, London, and USUN. Telegram 261984 to guatemala City is dated November 5. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750384–0693) Telegram 262111 to Guatemala City and London is dated November 5 and is Document 215. On November 7, Rambsotham passed a message from Callaghan to Kissinger, in which the Foreign Secretary indicated, “We shall of course do everything we can to avoid any kind of military confrontation and to strengthen the hands of such moderates as there are in Guatemala.” (Ibid., P810038–1714)