SWNCC Files
Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee 78
SWNCC 38/35
Subject: Over-All Examination of U.S. Requirements For Military Rights.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff request that the Secretary of State be informed as follows:
“In view of the course of events during the past six months, the Joint Chiefs of Staff desire to supplement the matter contained in their memorandum of 23 October 1945 (SWNCC 38/22)79 relative to the military rights desired on the territory of foreign nations.
“The utilization of the word ‘base’ in that memorandum, in connection with the areas in which military rights are desired, was not [Page 1175] intended to imply necessarily the permanent garrisoning of troops or stationing of aircraft or naval vessels in foreign territory during peacetime or even during wartime. There is a distinction between ‘rights’ desired which can be exercised when necessary, and the actual establishment, garrisoning, or maintenance of bases. Whether or not the United States intends to take advantage of rights at any particular site will depend on a number of factors, such as current strategic concept, the international situation, new weapons of war, and the material and manpower resources available to the armed forces of the United States.
“A reconsideration of the situation in the South Pacific leads the Joint Chiefs of Staff to recommend a reduction in the category of certain bases, particularly those located below the equator. There are also certain modifications in requirements which can be made in the Caribbean and in Africa. These have been summarized in the Appendix which the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend be substituted for the Appendix to SWNCC 38/25.
“Of the 30 locations listed, only six are listed as essential. Of these six, Iceland, Greenland, and the Azores are of outstanding importance. The other three are Casablanca-Port Lyautey (or Canary Islands, if rights at Casablanca-Port Lyautey are unobtainable), the Galapagos, and the Panama airfields.
“The other 24 locations are classified as required if reasonably obtainable, but not absolutely essential to the base system. Three of these (Canton, Christmas, and Funafuti) are in disputed sovereignty between the United States and the British. The remaining 21 are grouped below in order of importance:
| “1st Group | |
| Admiralty Islands (Manus) | Dakar (or Cape Verde Islands, if rights at Dakar are unobtainable) |
| Ascension Island | Goose Bay |
| “2d Group | |
| Monrovia | Batista Field |
| Surinam | St. Julian—La Fe |
| Curacao-Aruba | Talara |
| Salinas | |
| “3d Group | |
| Viti Levu | Espiritu Santo |
| Guadalcanal—Tulagi | Biak—Woendi |
| Tarawa | Morotai |
| Upolu | New Caledonia |
“It is desired to emphasize that failure to obtain the minimum requirements outlined above for any particular area will necessitate a re-evaluation of the importance of adjacent areas. For example: [Page 1176]
- “a. If joint or participating rights alt Casablanca-Port Lyautey are obtained, there would be no need for any rights in the Canary Islands.
- “b. If joint or transit rights at Dakar are obtained, there will be no need for rights at the Cape Verde Islands.
- “c. If joint or participating rights in the Galapagos Islands are obtained, transit rights at Talara and Salinas would suffice. However, if the Galapagos are not available for U.S. use, joint rights at Talara are required.
“The Joint Chiefs of Staff request, therefore, that they be kept advised of the progress of negotiations for all bases in order that they may promptly revise the rights desired at alternate sites should the need arise.
“Revision of the various detailed statements of rights in the subject areas, which have previously been furnished the Secretary of State, by countries, is now in process and will be forwarded promptly upon completion.”
Captain, U.S. Navy, Deputy Secretary
- Approved by the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee by informal action on June 14.↩
- SWNCC 38/22 is not printed; SWNCC 38/25, a revision thereof, is printed on p. 1112.↩
- Joint right is the right to use for military purposes, in common with the nation exercising sovereignty, mandate or trusteeship, an area, installation or facility; and to debar any other nation from such use unless it is mutually agreed between the United States and the nation exercising sovereignty, mandate or trusteeship, that another nation or nations may share such use. [Footnote in the original.]↩
- Participating right is the right to share, on the most-favored-nation principle, with the nation exercising sovereignty, mandate or trusteeship, and with any other nation which that nation may accord the right to participate, in the use for military purposes of an area, installation or facility. [Footnote in the original.]↩
- Transit: Long term rights of military air transit and technical stop as defined in SWNCC 38/30. [Footnote in the original. SWNCC 38/30 is printed on p. 1142.]↩