Battle of Belize

H.M.S. Sheffield, flagship of the American Gulf & West Indies Squadron, had just done Britain's honors at the inaugural cf Venezuelan President Romulo Gallegos. Last week, she lay at anchor off the Colombian coast, while her handsome senior officer, Vice Admiral Sir William Tennant, went inland to pay courtesy calls in Bogota. An urgent order flashed from Whitehall: proceed without delay to British Honduras. Taking Sir William aboard at historic Cartagena, the Sheffield raced northwest for Belize. Over from Jamaica, by a second order, steamed the 9,850-ton cruiser H.M.S. Devonshire with a detachment of the Gloucestershire Regiment. The occasion for this showing of the flag: "Possible incidents staged by irresponsible elements in neighboring Guatemala."

An anti-government newspaper in Guatemala City had set off the incident that excited the British Admiralty. Jeering at Guatemala's army, the paper had asked why it did not "occupy Belize and show that Guatemalan soldiers were useful for more than parades." Though President Juan Jose Arevalo promptly closed the paper for this insult to the army, the incident gave the British a fair reason for a show of strength. Argentina and Chile, which had been needling Britain in Antarctica (TIME, March 1), could be expected to take notice.

Sixteenth Century Britons and Spaniards first disputed Belize, and the Guatemalans inherited the dispute. In mid-19th Century, Britain tried to settle it all by promising the Guatemalans a road to their back-country province of Peten in return for recognition. By failing to build the road, Guatemalans claim, the British forfeited their title. Since then the British have lost money on their colony. Apart from a seaport for Peten, all the Guatemalans would win with Belize is prestige.

Last week, as Royal Marines from the Sheffield went ashore at Belize, Guatemalans called on their army for protection from "a British invasion." President Arevalo asked the U.S. to defend Latin American claims against Britain lest the inter-American system collapse. Citizens demanded 200% duties on all British goods. At week's end, there was loud talk of breaking diplomatic relations.

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