§ Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Guatemala have taken place recently concerning British Honduras.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyAt the request of the Guatemalan Government conversations were held in March of this year with Senor Jose Luis Mendoza, the Guatemalan representative at the Ghana Independence celebrations, on his way through London. Senor Mendoza proposed that in view of the constant strain on Anglo-Guatemalan relations arising from the long-standing dispute over British Honduras an attempt to resolve it should be made in negotiations which he suggested might begin in June. He was informed in reply that Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to discuss the possibility of improving transit facilities across British Honduras thus facilitating the economic development of the Peten, on the lines indicated as desirable by the Guatemalans themselves in82W 1954, provided that Guatemala acknowledged the sovereignty of Her Majesty's Government over British Honduras. Senor Mendoza was also informed that elected representatives of the Government of British Honduras and the Governor would have to be present at any discussions held on this basis. Her Majesty's Government's policy in regard to membership of the proposed West Indies Federation was explained to him but it was made clear that there was no question of Her Majesty's Government entering into discussions in regard to a possible change of sovereignty.
Her Majesty's Government are still very ready to discuss the possibility of improving transit facilities across British Honduras on the conditions mentioned above. They are, however, not prepared to enter into any discussions concerning the question of sovereignty over the Colony.