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GRS 1020
UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO 02160OZ DEC 80
TO IMMEDIATE CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES GUIDANCE TELEGRAM NUMBER 123 OF 2 DECEMBER 1980
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BELIZE:
INDEPENDENCE MOVES
1. THE LORD PRIVY SEAL MADE THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT ON 2 DECEM-
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE BER IN REPLY TO A WRITTEN PQ: BEGINS.
WILL BE CONVENED IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH THE INTENTION OF BRINGING BELIZE TO EARLY INDEPENDENCE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNGA RESOLUTION NO 35/20 OF 11 NOVEMBER 1960. IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE TO SECURE A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF THE.. DISPUTE WITH GUATEMALA. TO THAT END, A PROPOSAL FOR A FURTHER MEETING WITH GUATEMALAN REPRESENTATIVES HAS BEEN PUT TO THE
GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT.
ENDS.
LINE TO TAKE (IF QUESTIONED)
2. THE BELIZE GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED MANY TIMES SINCE THE COLONY GAINED INTERNAL SELF GOVERNMENT IN 1964, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HMG'S POLICY TO BRING THE COLONY TO INDEPENDENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN VIEW OF GROWING PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF BELIZE AND FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY EXPRESSED IN THE RESOLUTION OVERWHELMINGLY ADOPTED BY THE UNGA ON 11 NOVEMBER BY 139 VOTES TO O WITH ONLY 7 ABSTENTIONS, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED SUPPORT OF THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON BELIZE FOR BELIZE'S RIGHT TO AN EARLY INDEPENDENCE, THE GOVERNMENT FEEL, THEY CANNOT DELAY ANY LONGER. THEY HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED TO CALL A CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH THE INTENTION OF BRINGING BELIZE TO EARLY INDEPENDENCE. IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SEEK A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF THE LONG STANDING DISPUTE WITH GUATEMALA SINCE A SETTLEMENT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED AND WOULD OFFER THE MOST SECURE FUTURE TO THE TERRITORY AFTER INDEPENDENCE. BELIZE AND GUATEMALA MUST LIVE IN HARMONY AS INDEPENDENT NEIGHBOURS.
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