Mr Day
Britain was concerned to see that Belize's security was maintained at that time and would take such steps as then seemed necessary. However the Heads of Agreement with Guatemala had substantially improved the situation. thought that Belize would welcome the Commonwealth's moral and political support, both in the area and more widely. Independence would bring Belize into the international frame-work; if she wished to enter into more precise arrangements with the Commonwealth after independence that would be for the independent goverment of Belize to pursue.
4. The High Commissioner for Jamaica asked what Britain intended to do on the security question if there were changes in the Heads of Agreement. Mr Blaker said that there was no reason to think that Guatemala intended to change its view of the Heads of Agreement. Asked what would happen if the Belize government changed their minds, Mr Blaker said that in his view the bargain Belize had got was a very good one. He would be surprised if the Belizeans proved dissatisfied.
5. The High Commissioner for Jamaica asked about Mexican and Honduran interest in the matter. Mr Blaker said that the Mexicans were happy with the present situation; Mr Day added that Mexico had indicated that they would only revive their own territorial claims if territory was ceded to Guatemala. The Honduras Government claim to the Sapodilla Cays had been put forward at the eleventh hour. HMG had made it clear to the Hondurans that British sovereignty was in no doubt. Mr Anyaoku (Deputy Secretary General in the Commonwealth Secretariat) said that the Mexican President had sent a message congratulating Belize. It seemed likely that, for as long as Belize continued to move to independence on the basis of the Heads of Agreement, problems would not arise. However, if in the negotiation of the detailed treaty, there were unresolvable issues, then this picture might change.
6. The High Commissioner for India asked if Britain could take a more positive role on North/South matters, as id the Canadians. Mr Blaker said that the British Government attached great importance to North/South questions and took a positive view of them. There was an impression that Britain ha' dragged its feet in this area. This was unjustified, but the British Government had perhaps not explained its position clearly or early enough. The UK's record was good. While the aid budget
s been reduced, other areas of government expenditure had been cut far more. The UK's main priority was to et the economy right and unless this was done, the Government could do none of the important things it wished to do. Yet the aid pro rane came to over £1 billion and the UK was the world's fifth biggest aid donor. The UK had also supported the
expansion of the resources of international monetary institutions like the IMF and the IBA, and the flow of private finance an investment from the UK, in the area of 2.3% of GNP, was the highest figure in the world. Within the resources available to her, the UK was doing well.
17. However