STUDIES OF THE AMERICAS edited by Maxine Molyneux Institute for the Study of the Americas University of London School of Advanced Study Titles in this series are multidisciplinary studies of aspects of the societies of the hemi- sphere, particularly in the areas of politics, economics, history, anthropology, sociology, and the environment. The series covers a comparative perspective across the Americas, including Canada and the Caribbean as well as the United States and Latin America. Titles in this series published by Palgrave Macmillan: Cuba’s Military 1990–2005: Revolutionary Soldiers during Counter-Revolutionary Times By Hal Klepak The Judicialization of Politics in Latin America Edited by Rachel Sieder, Line Schjolden, and Alan Angell Latin America: A New Interpretation By Laurence Whitehead Appropriation as Practice: Art and Identity in Argentina By Arnd Schneider America and Enlightenment Constitutionalism Edited by Gary L. McDowell and Johnathan O’Neill Vargas and Brazil: New Perspectives Edited by Jens R. Hentschke When Was Latin America Modern? Edited by Nicola Miller and Stephen Hart Debating Cuban Exceptionalism Edited by Bert Hoffman and Laurence Whitehead Caribbean Land and Development Revisited Edited by Jean Besson and Janet Momsen Cultures of the Lusophone Black Atlantic Edited by Nancy Priscilla Naro, Roger Sansi-Roca and David H. Treece Democratization, Development, and Legality: Chile, 1831–1973 By Julio Faundez The Hispanic World and American Intellectual Life, 1820–1880 By Iván Jaksic´ The Role of Mexico’s Plural in Latin American Literary and Political Culture: From Tlatelolco to the “Philanthropic Ogre” By John King Faith and Impiety in Revolutionary Mexico Edited by Matthew Butler Reinventing Modernity in Latin America: Intellectuals Imagine the Future, 1900–1930 By Nicola Miller The Republican Party and Immigration Politics: From Proposition 187 to George W. Bush By Andrew Wroe The Political Economy of Hemispheric Integration: Responding to Globalization in the Americas Edited by Diego Sánchez-Ancochea and Kenneth C. Shadlen Ronald Reagan and the 1980s: Perceptions, Policies, Legacies Edited by Cheryl Hudson and Gareth Davies Wellbeing and Development in Peru: Global and Local Views Confronted Edited by James Copestake The Federal Nation: Perspectives on American Federalism Edited by Iwan W. Morgan and Philip J. Davies Base Colonies in the Western Hemisphere, 1940–1967 By Steven High Beyond Neoliberalism in Latin America?: Societies and Politics at the Crossroads Edited by John Burdick, Philip Oxhorn, and Kenneth M. Roberts Visual Synergies in Fiction and Documentary Film from Latin America Edited by Miriam Haddu and Joanna Page Cuban Medical Internationalism: Origins, Evolution and Goals By John M. Kirk and H. Michael Erisman Governance after Neoliberalism in Latin America Edited by Jean Grugel and Pia Riggirozzi Modern Poetics and Hemispheric American Cultural Studies By Justin Read Youth Violence in Latin America: Gangs and Juvenile Justice in Perspective Edited by Gareth A. Jones and Dennis Rodgers The Origins of Mercosur By Gian Luca Gardini Belize’s Independence and Decolonization in Latin America: Guatemala, Britain, and the UN By Assad Shoman Belize’s Independence and Decolonization in Latin America PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED WORKS BY ASSAD SHOMAN Land in Belize, 1765–1871 (with Nigel Bolland), 1977 Party Politics in Belize, 1950–1986, 1987 Thirteen Chapters of a History of Belize, 1994 Backtalking Belize, 1995 Belize’s Independence and Decolonization in Latin America Guatemala, Britain, and the UN Assad Shoman BELIZE’S INDEPENDENCE AND DECOLONIZATION IN LATIN AMERICA Copyright © Assad Shoman, 2010. All rights reserved. First published in 2010 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United States—a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN: 978–0–230–62066–7 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Shoman, Assad. Belize’s independence & decolonization in Latin America : Guatemala, Britain, and the UN / by Assad Shoman. p. cm. — (Studies of the Americas) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–0–230–62066–7 (alk. paper) 1. Belize—History—Autonomy and independence movements. 2. Decolonization—Belize—History. 3. Globalization—Belize— History—20th century. 4. Belize—Foreign relations—Guatemala. 5. Belize—Foreign relations—Great Britain. 6. United Nations— History—20th century. 7. Guatemala—Foreign relations—Belize. 8. Great Britain—Foreign relations—Belize. I. Title. II. Title: Belize’s independence and decolonization in Latin America. F1446.3.S56 2010 972.82—dc22 2009039966 A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: April 2010 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America. Contents List of Table and Maps ix Foreword by Victor Bulmer-Thomas xi Preface xv Note on Sources xix List of Abbreviations xxi 1 Introduction: Decolonization by Internationalization 1 2 The Guatemalan Claim and Decolonization 23 3 Negotiation and Mediation (1962–1972) 49 4 Heavy Lobbying, Hard Bargaining (1938–1975) 77 5 Internationalization Emergent (1975) 101 6 Internationalization Ascendant (1976–1977) 121 7 Internationalization Triumphant (1978–1981) 149 8 Conclusions: The Power of the Conjuncture 187 Appendix 199 Notes 203 Select Bibliography 237 Index 243 This page intentionally left blank Table and Maps Table Population of Belize, 1790–1980. 199 Maps 1. Map showing the areas defined by border treaties affecting Belize. 200 2. Map showing Guatemalan demands during 1975–1981 negotiations. 201 3. Map Showing main UK and U.S. proposals during 1975–1981 negotiations. 202