811.34544/713: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
987. For the Ambassador and the President’s Base Lease Commission. My 910, March 18. The text of the Agreement set forth in your 1085 of March 1997 has been approved by the Government of the United States, subject to the alterations which have been proposed and accepted by telegraph since the receipt of your telegram under reference. You may therefore with the approval of the President sign the Agreement for the United States; your signatures will be [Page 84] without qualification. Authorization to sign the Protocol was given in my 977, March 22nd.99
It is the President’s wish that the Agreement be signed Wednesday.1 He is sending a message to Congress enclosing the Agreement, the Newfoundland protocol and the notes exchanged in connection with the Agreement for the information of the Congress. He wishes to send this message at 12, noon, Washington time, Thursday, March 27, and we hope that it will be agreeable to the British authorities for the Agreement to be released simultaneously in Washington and London at that hour for immediate publication.
It is our understanding that the following notes will be exchanged at the time the agreement is signed:
- (1)
- In regard to the status of Newfoundland (texts of both notes quoted in your 1063, March 1899).
- (2)
- In regard to censorship and examination of mail, dealt with in your 1154, March 24,99 and a separate telegram which we are sending you today.99