TNAG-0597-FCO40-744-Future-of-Dependent-Territories-territorial-studies-1977 — Page 16

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UNITED NATIONRECEIVED

GENERAL

Y NO. 51

1 2 DEC 1977

DESK OFF INDEX

BEGISTRY Wijon Taken

R+R.

Baliz See (49)

Distr.

GENERAL

A/32/365

23 November 1977

ASSEMBLY

Thirty-second session

Agenda item 24

ORIGINAL:

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF

INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES

Letter dated 23 November 1977 from the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the

United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

ENGLISH

I have the honour to refer to the note verbale dated 18 November 1977 from the Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the United Nations which was circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda item 24 (A/32/350).

The annex to the note verbale contained the text of a telegram dated 17 November from Mr. Alejandro Vernon. This telegram contained various inaccuracies and distortions about the treatment of Mr. Anthony Martínez by the Belizean authorities. The Office of the Governor of Belize has confirmed to my Mission that Mr. Martínez is not under arrest, nor in detention. It is quite untrue that he was "seized" by Belizean authorities on his arrival in Punta Gorda on 16 November (not 15 November as is stated in Mr. Alejandro Vernon's telegram). Mr. Martínez was questioned by the police on his return as he had no travel document in his possession. He told immigration officers that his temporary permit, allowing travel between towns in border areas, had been mislaid by Guatemalan immigration officers. The Secretary-General may be assured that the Belizean authorities are not taking action against any one of the three petitioners to the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly on the question of Belize on account of statements made in that forum. Public opinion in the district of Toledo has been outraged by the statements made by the petitioners in New York and feeling against them is running high. Every precaution to protect the petitioners is being taken by the Government of Belize.

I request Your Excellency to arrange for this letter to be circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda item 24.

77-25181

(Signed) Ivor RICHARD