711.56346E/4–1453
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Nash) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: Reference is made to the letter of 7 April 19521 from the Department of State concerning United States military requirements in Ceylon. This letter indicated that the time was not propitious to open negotiations with the Government of Ceylon with a view toward securing the necessary military rights to establish and operate certain United States military facilities in Ceylon.
On 21 July 1952 your Department was furnished a copy of the requirements for military operating requirements in Ceylon, expressed in general terms.2 Subsequently, upon receipt of your concurrence, a copy of these requirements was forwarded to the British Chiefs of Staff for their information. The British Chiefs of Staff have requested that they be advised prior to the opening of any intergovernmental negotiations.
The acquisition of the military rights necessary to accommodate the proposed United States military requirements is a matter of great importance [Page 1568] to the United States Air Force inasmuch as the requirement for a heavy bomber staging base is a priority item in the current United States Air Force program. Accordingly, forwarded herewith is a statement of the detailed military requirements which may be used as the basis for future negotiations. It is requested that this Department be advised whether negotiations with the Government of Ceylon may be opened at this time or if this is still not possible in view of the political considerations, that this Department be advised when it may reasonably be expected that such negotiations can be initiated. This Department will notify the British Chiefs of Staff prior to the initiation of any negotiations.
This Department will be prepared to furnish military advisors to assist the U.S. Ambassador whenever negotiations may be initiated.
Sincerely yours,
Major General, U.S. Army
Military Deputy to the Assistant
Secretary of Defense (ISA)
- The letter was from Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs Burton Y. Berry to the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Frank C. Nash. It indicated that the Department of State concurred with the current British view that the present time (Apr. 7, 1952) was not propitious to undertake U.S.-Ceylon discussions over bases because new national elections were soon expected to be held, and a new prime minister, Dudley Senanayake, had just taken office. (711.56346E/4–752)↩
- This material, not printed, included a cover letter, dated July 21, 1952, a draft memorandum to the representatives of the British Chiefs of Staff, and a general outline of U.S. military requirements for Ceylon (711.56346E/7–2152).↩