22nd Kove oar 19*0*
Dear Mr. Acting Secretary,
You will aee from the other letter
which I am ¦tndiog you today regarding the
American oases In Bermuda and the Carlobean
tiiat the point re^ardln^ St. Lucia which you
Y   raised In your letter of October 30th Is very
lnrgely covered by that letter*   As Is nade
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 thlfl area
forthwith.
It was however sug^eatert In your letter
that auch land within this area aa oelongeci to
private owners should be leased direct from
these owners by the United States authorities.
I have been asked to explain that His lajeflty'a
Government feel It vary deeiraole that In this
Suranor 7<ellesf
Acting Secretary of State of the United States,
Washington. D.C.
The Honourable,
and/
In all similar ceeea the colonial Qovernmente
concerned should In the first ; r-ee acquire any
privately-owned land and should then complete the
transaction by leasing the land to the United r.tates
authorities.   The views of the British Government on
this point neve already been explained informally to
the ;.avy department who raised no objection and indeed
welcomed this altered procedure.   I hope therefore
that the suggestion will be equally acceptable to
the ; -ate ^apartment.
If it is   greed that this procedure shall
be adopted in rosrect of privately owned land, s
number of minor legal questions affecting the saue
issue will require to be settled.   If it is agreeable
to you X would suggest that these setters might be
discussed between UM legal adviser tn this bassy,
Sir. Foster, and soaie u-ewbcr of Judge .Hsckworth's staff.
Believe tee,
Dear I-r* Acting Secretary,
Very sincerely yours.
(SOD) X. K. BUTLgft