TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 157

1

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret,

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT

TERRITORIAL SURVEY

Type 1 +

From

To:-

TERRITORY: BELIZE

In Confidence

POPULATION:

140,000

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

DSR 11

SPECIAL FACTORS: Claim to territory by Guatemala which threatens military action against Belize in the event of independence without a settlement of their claim.

PROSPECTS FOR INDEPENDENCE: Would move fairly quickly to independence as soon as the Guatemalan claim has been

resolved.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO INDEPENDENCE: None acceptable to the population.

RECOMMENDED POLICY: Resolve the dispute with Guatemala as soon as possible, thus removing the only obstacle to independence.

CONFIDENTIAL