ANTI-BRITISH UNREST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 105, 16 February 1950, Page 5

ANTI-BRITISH UNREST

Demonstrations In Belize BELIZE (British Honduras), Feb. 14. Anti-British unrest over the devaluation of the British Honduras currency flared up to-day in several incidents bordering on violence. Angry crowds singing “God Bless America” marched through the streets of Belize after plans had been announced for the reception of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, on February 23.

The Government had proposed eliminating the singing of ”God Save the King” if the people of Belize would refrain from singing “God Bless America.”

Some of the demonstrators seized Mr M. Wilson, a member of the Belize Municipal Council, who voted for the recent proposal to give Prince'ss Alice the keys of the city. Mr Wilson was roughly handled, and forced' to march under a United States flag to his home, which was stoned. Crowds, also stoned the houses of two other councillors. A schoolteacher who chastised his pupils for singing “God Bless America” was chased, but escaped. ■ Mr George Price, secretary of the copimittee which is directing the antidevaluation campaign, finally succeeded in calming the demonstrators. The British Honduras Legislature to-day passed a resolution calling on the British Government to allot a minimum of £1,000,000 to provide work for the colony’s unemployed. One member of the Legislature said the people were not disloyal to the Crown, but simply “hungry and dissatisfied.” They resented the rise in the cost of living which had occurred since devaluation.