COPY
4
SECRET
Dominions Office,
Downing Street, S.W.I.
20th November 1940.
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My dear Philip,
You will remember that when you were in
London we had some talk about the question of the
jurisdiction go Co granted to the United States In
connection with the lease to them of base3 in New-
foundland, and that I promised to forward a note
to you when you had got back to Washington.
You will now have received the mesaage from
Lloyd in Foreign Office telegram Mo. 3073 as regards
the similar question in the case of the Colonies. I
agree with the views expressed in this message, but I
am'enclosing a note amplifying the position slightly
so far as Newfoundland is concerned.   The chief point
in the case of Newfoundland is that referred to in
the last paragraph of the note, i.e. that, in view
of the present constitutional position, the Newfound-
land Government are most anxious  that in this matter
they should appear as far as possible as principals
and not agents and that nothing should be settled as
regards the bases in Newfoundland over their heads.
For this reason, I think it most important that Poster,
ie, r.'ost Honourable. _ m     _ _.
The ftarquess of Lothian, K.T., C.H.
when/
*
when he talks to the Americans, should not give
the Impression that he is negotiating on behalf
of Newfoundland and that the Newfoundlanders should
have the opportunity of stating their own case when
the London discussions, at which they will be rep-
resented, take place.   I should not expect that New-
foundland would wish to stand out for more than is
proposed in Lloyd's message to you, but what is
really important is that Newfoundland should have
the opportunity of arguing their own case and that
we should not appear to be doing It for them.
Yours ever,
(Signed)   ? B