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^   33 98/
22nd Move ber 1940.
Dear Mr, Acting Secretary,
You will see from the other letter
' which I am sending you today regarding the
American bases In Bermuda and the Caribbean
that the point regarding St. Lucia which you
2$*)&/*/*** raised In your letter of October 30th Is very
lnrgely covered by that letter.   As is made
clear In the schedule annexed to my other
letter, the British authorities entirely agree
with the definition of the proposed seaplane
base ns set out In your letter and equally
agree that work   ay be oegun In this area
forthwith.
It v?as however suggested In your letter
that such land within this area as belonged to
private -wners should be leased direct from
these owners by the United States authorities.
I have been asked to explain that His ..a.jesty's
Government feel it very desirable that In this
The Honourable, and/
Sumner Viellea,
Acting Secretary of State of the United States,
Washington, D.C.
FRHM:NT:BA
9
L
in all similar cases the Colonial Governments
concerned should in the first place acquire any
privately-owned land and should then complete the
transaction "by leasing the land to the united States
authorities.   The viewB of the British Government on
this point have already teen explained informally to
the Navy Department who raieed no objection and indeed
welcomed this altered procedure,   I hope therefore
that the suggestion will be equally acceptable to
the State Department.
If it is   greed that this procedure shall
be adopted in respect of privately owned lend, a
number of minor legal questions affecting the same
issue will require to be settled.   If it is agreeable
to you I would suggest that these matters might be
discussed between the legal adviser to this i^bassy,
Mr. Poster, and sou.e member of Judge Hackworth's staff.
Believe we,
Dear ?.r. Acting Secretary,
Very sincerely yours,
(SCK>) N. U. MBUB