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

200. Telegram 4060 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State¹

New York, September 6, 1975, 1454Z.

4060. Subj: Belize at the UNGA. Ref: USUN 4000, USUN 3587.

1. On September 3 British mission officer Richardson responded to our inquiry about recent developments on Belize by informing us that Belizean Attorney General Shoman will arrive in New York on Sunday, September 7 to “sniff out” the atmosphere. Richardson said there has been no decision yet on any resolution on Belize but that the Belizeans were encouraged by support for their position at the Lima Non-Aligned Conference. He believes it inevitable that the Belizeans will “make a fuss” during the General Assembly. Richardson reported that Shoman will stay on until the Belizean question is discussed probably in early November. He also reported that there have been rumors that Guatemala is concerned over a possible resolution on Belize.

2. Richardson said that the UK position is unchanged. The UK feels that the issue must ultimately be resolved by negotiations and that any action here must be evaluated in the light of how it might affect negotiations. He said that the advantages of a resolution on Belize would be to demonstrate to Guatemala the level of support at the UN for the Belizian position. The disadvantage, he said, was that a strong resolution might lead to “rash action” on the part of the Guatemalans.

3. Richardson said that he would be pleased to discuss this matter in more detail in the near future. He indicated that he expected that Shoman would ask to see us here in New York and asked what our position concerning such a meeting would be. We responded that we were unsure of what our attitude would be but that we would probably see Shoman if that’s what he wanted.

4. Comment: Richardson seemed more positive about the emergence of a Belizean resolution than in our previous conversation reported in USUN 3587.

Moynihan

1. Summary: British U.N. mission officer Richardson informed the U.S. mission that Belize felt encouraged by support for its independence at the Lima Non-Aligned Conference. Although noting that a United Nations resolution in favor of Belize might demonstrate the level of support for independence, Richardson expressed concern that it might lead to “rash action” by the Guatemalan Government.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750309–0375. Confidential. Repeated to Belize City, Guatemala City, and London. Telegram 4000 from USUN, September 4, is ibid., D750305–0107. Telegram 3587 from USUN is published as Document 198. In a last minute note attached to a covering memorandum to Rogers, September 12, Lazar reported that at a September 11 dinner in Washington, British Minister Moreton had told Ambassador Meloy “that the U.K. was attempting to exercise restraint over the Belizeans and allies at New York.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P8100380–1610)