ہیں
CODE 18-77
Reference.....
4.
parody of Caribbean constitutions but the main elements have been greatly diluted. The provisions for calling a State of Emergency include the wording 'when democratic institutions are threatened'. This was unique. Price was attempting to push all blacks out of Belize which was why no racial statistics were kept.
(e) The Governor's role during the State of Emergency in respect of controls on the Public Service Union was incompatible with the European Commission on Human Rights and a case would be pursued against the UK if the controls on the PSU were not lifted. References were made to the hanging in Bermuda which preceded the murder of the Governor of Bermuda. The European Commission had ruled that the imposition of the death penalty by the UK was illegal. In answer to a question by Mr O'Shaughnessy, Erlington maintained that this was not a veiled threat against Mr Hennessy. The hanging which is due to take place in Belize on 22 April was not mentioned.
(f) Belize would be ready to accept the Heads of Agreement if the future security of Belize was guaranteed by the US and the OAS.
(g) They were in touch with the TUC in London.
(h) It is Price's ambition to achieve Central American unification.
This is rejected by the majority of Belizeans.
They concluded a somewhat disjointed meeting by saying that if HMG gave the Belizean people an undertaking to organise an internationally supervised referendum on the agreements with Guatemala then peace in Belize could be restored at once. The attached article in today's Guardian by Patrick Keatley is the only one to have appeared.
5. Mr Payne has since raised the question of whether or not we should see Laing and Elrington whilst they are in London. Present- ationally I think there might be some value in doing so but clearly it would not be appropriate for the Minister of State or a senior official to do so. However, although we could put them right on a great many points, I think they believe in their own case to such. an extent that they would be unlikely to accept anything we might have to say to them. I have been attempting to find out where they are staying in London but so 'far without success. Parliament has finished for the day and I cannot contact Dr Miller.
Mr Ecrington has asked to call
on the Overseas Labos Adner on 13 Apore at 11.30. The Dyor. with be represented.
10 April 1981
A. Payne 10/4
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