811.34544/481: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of
State
London, January 25, 1941.
[Received
January 26—10:55 a.m.]
294. From President’s Base Lease Commission. We arrived today and
conferred informally with Sir Alan Burns, Assistant Under Secretary
of Colonial Office, who will preside at business meetings. Present
plan calls for formal opening meeting Tuesday morning80 with first business meeting
Tuesday afternoon. Meetings will ordinarily be held twice daily
thereafter in attempt to finish in 2 weeks. British have suggested
following agenda:
- “1. Form of lease or other document.
- 2. Provision as to satisfactory use of leased
territory.
- 3. Boundaries of sites, (a)
Newfoundland, (b) Antigua, (c) Bahamas, (d) Bermuda, (e) British
Guiana, (f) Jamaica, (g) St. Lucia, (h) Trinidad.
- 4. Questions relating to the services (a) command and policy as to
defence, (b) reciprocal use in
peace and war of: (1) naval bases, anchorages and
dockyards, (2) military airdromes, (c) radio stations, (d)
local flying regulations, (e)
meteorological stations, (f)
hydrographic surveys.
- 5. Jurisdiction.
- 6. Apprehension and surrender of offenders.
- 7. Regulations in areas (e. g., health, gambling,
etc.)
- 8. Immigration and shipping (a)
immigration laws; (b) quarantine
(including plant quarantine); (c)
payment by United States ships of (1) harbor dues, (2)
light dues, (3) pilotage dues; (d) nature of lights put up by United States
Government; (e) coastwise
shipping; (f) harbor facilities
in leased areas for British and other shipping.
- 9. Customs duties.
- 10. Import and export control in time of war.
- 11. Financial (a) currency,
(b) exchange control.
- 12. Establishment of businesses and professions by
United States citizens and others in leased
areas.
- 13. Employment of local labor.
- 14. Use of British and local goods.
- 15. Postal and telegraph (a)
postal facilities, (b) cable,
wireless and telephone facilities in leased areas, (c) censorship in time of
war.
- 16. Traffic regulations in leased areas.
- 17. Particular rights to be reserved in leased areas,
e. g., (a) minerals and oil, (b) treasure trove, (c) antiquities, (d) fishing and other local
industry.
- 18. Expropriation of private property.
- 19. Treatment of colored population.
- 20. Additional costs of administration due to
establishment of United States bases.
- 21. Additional compensation to Newfoundland and
colonies.
- 22. Civil aviation.
- 23. Liability of United States contractors to
Newfoundland or Colonial income tax, professional fees,
etc.”
Colonial Office suggests that one lease for each base containing all
provisions, separate documents assumedly, viz. (1) a separate lease
for each base to contain full description of geographic areas and
the usual provisions having to do with occupation and use of land,
and (2) a general agreement to cover the administrative and
jurisdictional matters for all bases. This agreement would be
embodied in an exchange of notes or other agreed form and would be
incorporated in each lease by reference. We request your views.
The reason for this as stated to us is the belief that this would
facilitate the task of the British Government in persuading possibly
obstructive local legislatures to enact necessary legislation
without resorting to an act of Parliament. (See Embassy’s 228,
January 21, 10 p.m.) [Base Lease Commission.]
