§ 5. Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments on the negotiations between the United Kingdom Government and Guatemala over the territorial integrity of Belize.
§ Mr. RowlandsWe are in touch with both Government and Opposition in Belize and with the new Guatemalan Government about the next stage in negotiations. Representatives of the Belize Government and Opposition will be present at all negotiations. Any settlement proposals will be put to the people of Belize in a referendum.
§ Mr. DurantI welcome the last part of the Minister's reply, in which he said that any decisions will involve the people of Belize. May we have an assurance that nothing will be decided when the House is not sitting and that no decision about the future of this important little country will be decided without the House being fully involved?
§ Mr. RowlandsOf course I can give that assurance. In order for Belize to become independent, legislation is required. That means that any proposal or settlement must come before the House.
§ Mr. NewensAre we clearly standing by the principle of the full territorial integrity of Belize? Has the United States Administration now accepted this principle, and is it giving assistance by putting it across to Guatemala?
§ Mr. RowlandsI do not think that we should slam doors on any possible developments that may emerge in future negotiations. The greatest safeguard for the people of Belize is that they themselves must approve by referendum any political settlement, and that this House must also give its approval.
§ Mr. LuceIt is obviously to be hoped that there will be an agreement in the next few months between the new Government of Guatemala, the British and the Belizeans. May I support and welcome the fact that the Minister has made it quite clear that there will be no change in the position of the Belizeans without their full consent?
§ Mr. RowlandsI thank the hon. Member.