12. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Guatemala1
236273. Subject: Secretary’s Bilateral With Guatemalan Foreign Minister: Belize. Ref: London 16136.2
1. The Secretary’s abbreviated bilateral meeting with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Molina at the UN September 27, cut short by the Secretary’s need to return to Washington, was devoted entirely to Belize.
2. Molina, confirming that he was to meet the next day with British Foreign Secretary Owen on Belize, offered a generally positive reaction to the exploratory talks which had been held recently in London between a team of Guatemalan negotiators and British representatives (London 16136). He said that for the first time there had been real advances in the conversations. They had not come to any definite conclusions and no formal commitments had been made, but certain formulas had been advanced for consideration and the British had shown themselves more reasonable. At least, the British understood, Molina said, that an outlet to the sea was very important to Guatemala. He noted, however, that the two sides were still far apart.
3. After a map review of some of the possible territorial divisions which had been discussed in London and a reference by Molina to a possible demarcation line running west from the mouth of the Monkey River, the Secretary noted that he had talked with the British and that he thought that the Monkey River was out of the question as far as the British were concerned. He said that a settlement based on a line in the region of the Moho plus the Ranguana and Sapodilla Cays was something that the British could be pressed to do and we could lean pretty hard on them to do it. But the Secretary said he saw little flexibility north of the Moho and Aguacate Rivers.
4. Molina argued that the Guatemalan Government could not sell a Moho settlement to the Guatemalan public, quoting President Laugerud to this effect. The President had said, he noted, that what they [Page 39] could try to sell was the Monkey. It was pointed out to Molina that the British could not sell the Monkey River to Price, and indeed would have a hard time persuading him to accept any territorial cession, especially a cession involving the cays. Molina observed that it was the Guatemalans who were being asked to relinquish all the territory. The Secretary said he would have to be honest and tell Molina there was not a chance in the world for a settlement on the Monkey.
5. Assistant Secretary Todman pointed out that what was happening was that there was more and more support, including among Latin Americans, for Belize’s territorial integrity. Molina said he did not think this was true for the Latin American countries, except for Panama, but the Secretary said he knew of six such Latin American governments. Todman noted that the effect of this would be to strengthen the British position.
6. There was a general discussion of a joint program of development in the area, during which Molina noted the possibility of consulting the wishes of the inhabitants of the area after five years. He contended that the affected population of some 9,000 were largely Mayan in origin. He acknowledged the desirability of joint exploration of the cays area and said he thought, if oil were found, there should be arrangements to divide it.
7. The Secretary agreed to Molina’s request that they meet again following Molina’s meeting with the British Foreign Secretary.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770358–0623. Secret; Priority. Sent for information Priority to Belize City and London. Drafted by Boster; cleared by Todman and in S and S/S; approved by Matthews. No other record of the conversation was found.↩
- In telegram 16136 from London, September 27, Brewster described the recent “theoretical” talks between the Guatemalan delegation and U.K. Government: “Despite the apparent atmospheric and procedural success of the talks, it seems evident that HMG does not believe they will lead to early resolution of this difficult dispute.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770352–0249)↩