AbstractsPolitical Science

Purpose of the Study: British Honduras and British Guiana were two small British colonies seeking independence during the 1950s and 60s, at the height of the Cold War. Both colonies were geographically situated in Latin America, an area of great concern to the United States during this time of competition between the US and the Soviet Union for third-world political influence. During this same crucial time, the British were eager to relieve themselves of their colonial territories and the resulting fiscal responsibilities. The purpose of this project is to illuminate the differences between the US policies toward the decolonization processes in these two similar British colonies in Latin America. Procedure: This study uses records from the US State Department, the Foreign Relations of the United States Collection, and consulate records from the US consulates in British Honduras and British Guiana. Many of these materials were obtained from the National Archives at College Park, Maryland. Additionally, much of the background material for both colonies was obtained from secondary sources in the fields of history, developmental economics, anthropology and political science. Findings: There has been found to be a stark contrast between levels of US concern over the decolonization process in these two colonies. While the United States showed a clear and consistent desire to avoid involvement in the decolonization process in British Honduras, the US government took extreme measures at the highest levels of government to influence the outcome of British Guianese elections prior to independence. Conclusions: The most decisive factor for US policy toward British Guiana and British Honduras was the actions and words of the colonial leadership within the two colonies. The United States desired a clear anti-communist stance from all small nations in Latin America, and British Guiana and British Honduras needed to exemplify this stance in order to win US support while seeking independence.