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IB EG IM I NT
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MINUTE SHEET.
Reference...
»ir. Dunn spoke to me this afternoon ;
about procedure for further discussions on the leased
bases.    An Inter-departmental Committee had been set up
over which he was to preside:   from the State Department
there would also be Hackworth and Hickerson,from the
Navy Department probably Captain Sherman^and the V/ar
pnniipt.ient woulc have a representative.    The Committee
were examining the position anc: v/ouio shortiy^have their
comprehensive views as to matters outstanding.   Mr. Dunn
had hoped that the Embassy would be able to arrange a
similar committee, and that there would be a lawyer on it.
I told Mr. Dunn that this did not sound too good;
In a letter to Colonel Knox I had told him that the British
Government regarded it as a condition to work being begun
on the bases that the U.S.O. should accept their view
that the Surthur discussions on matters sugxoritini ''¦»<><w<-Vd
jurisdiction and compensation should be carried on in
documents were collected:
could bring this to
that we would be glad to
the points that we could,
laid down by London. Mr.
London where alone the relevant
I did not see how H. M. Embassy
anything like a final stage but
clear up with his Committee all
subject always to the condition
Dunn said that it was simply not a practical proposition that
State Department should send over to London officials
having the necessary authority.    I repeated that all the
documents were in London and that this was Colonial Office
work, and after all it was we who were being asked to give
certain things away.
As I loft I found the Committee collected
outside before holding a meeting, and I told Jar. Hackworth
that London had made it a condition that the final
discussions should be conducted in London.
We shall get in due course the comprehensive
picture promised by 14r. Dunn as a result of the labours
of his Committee.   Meanwhile we should perhaps warn London r\
W**rt the State Department may ba wiohin^ tu 1,0% ocfttolad
hnrip mtttor-r rhirh u huvo fleginert  rhuuld bi .tutLied
wliieti the Embassy a*p not&equipped to deal
ttith*fe.If we have to embark on serious discussions on
these bases it is for consideration whether we should ask
the Colonial Office to send us out an official.
December 3rd, 1940.