40. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1

Mac

FYI, on Indian Ocean bases I find that all seems to be under control. Kitchen in London a few weeks ago managed to settle matters with the UK. They have since told Mauritius it could have its independence but that the Chagos Archipelago (Diego Garcia) would be detached.

Kitchen suspects that the Brits may have over-read a new development—we now wonder whether a commo relay station in Diego Garcia would be as useful as a communications satellite. This is simply technological progress, not a loss of interest. At any rate, the Navy is simply holding up budgeting till this matter is sorted out.

You probably know better than I that the Brits are probing for US subsidies on various specifics East of Suez. I gather our position is that these matters can only be discussed as part of a much larger issue, including our support of sterling.

RWK
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Name File, Komer Memos, Vol. II. Secret.