The Secretary of State presents his compliments to
His Excellency the British Ambassador and has the honor
Sir Ronald Lindsay left at the Department of State on
April 12th last on the subject of the status and use of
certain Pacific Islands the sovereignty over which Is in
dispute*
The statements in this Aide-Memo ire have been con-
sidered carefully and the Secretary of State is now in
a position to make the following observations concerning
them:
Reference is made in the Aide-Memoire to an alleged
contrast between the American and British Interest in
these islands*   It is stated that the British interest
is partly to be able to utilize them for purposes of
aviation, both civil and military, but also to use them
for purposes of colonisation by the inhabitants of other
British islands in the Pacific.   It is stated in the Aide-
Hemolre that, on the other hand, if-the position is
correctly understood, the American interest may not be so
much concerned with the "acquisition" of mere territory as
such, nor with questions of resettlement, but may be con-
fined to the "acquisition of certain outposts for aviation,
perhaps both civil and military."
While it is true, as the Aide-Memoire further suggests,
that the American objectives have not hitherto been defined,
it is impossible to concede that the claim of the Government
of the United States to sovereignty is in any way affected
by the purposes for which this Government may in the future
choose to use these islands.   The American Government has
stated on several occasions its readiness to enter into dis-
cussions with the British Government concerning the status
and use of those islands which both Governments claim, but
it feels that it is important at this stage that there be
no confusion of the terms of sovereignty and use.
Sir Ronald Undsay's Aide-Memoire correctly implies
that
2S
-3-
that the British Government has not received a list of
the islands in the Pacific claimed by the United States
which are understood also to be the subject of British
claims.   There is transmitted herewith a list of islands
in the central Pacific Ocean which, in addition to is-
lands in the Phoenix <&?oup, are claimed by the United
States and to which, it is understood, Great Britain also
asserts claims *   The American Government is prepared to
discuss its claim and any British claim to each and every
one of these islands with the British Government at any
time convenient to the latter.   Pending such a discussion,
it would seem premature to consider further steps to recon-
cile any conflicting claims of the two Governments.
Sir Ronald Lindsay's Aide-Meraoire under reference dis-
cussed again the subject of civil aviation, and after sug-
gesting the formal adoption of the broad principle that each
party should make its islands available for the purposes of
civil aviation to the aircraft of the other, urged the United
States Government to accept an invitation to enter into a
conference with His Majesty's Governments in the United
Kingdom,
2?
-4-
Kingdom, In the Commonwealth of Australia, and In New
Zealand, for the discussion of trans-Paolfle aviation.
Sir Ronald Lindsay will reoall that the American
Government has consistently taken the position that the
subject of the status of these Islands and the subject
of trans-Pacific flying are two wholly separate matters,
only Indlreotly related.   The Secretary of State is of
the opinion that- in these circumstances the two subjects
should be considered separately and on their individual
merits.   The subject of trans-Pacific aviation raises such
a variety of problems which have to be considered from so
many different angles that the Amerloan Government is not
yet in a position to agree at this time to accept an invi-
tation to a conference for the consideration of Pacific air
facilities*
Enclosure:
List of islands*
Department of State,
Washington, August 16,1939.
811.0141 Phoenix 0roiQ>/l45
3o
-^Voetok
& Maiden
V
yStarbuck
yCaroline Island 11
s Christmas Island —
/Atafu
^ Hukunono __/VJ-*^-
^Penhryn (Tongareva)
yManahiki (Humphreys)
(/Ratonanga (Rlerson)
/Banger Islands (Puka Puka)
^/Nukufetau (De Peyster)
^ Funafuti
Nuraklta (Sophia)
Nukulallal (Mitchell)
mm