December 7th, 1940.
Uear *r. Secretary,
As you may be aware, Itv Hubert
Young, the -overnor of rrinidad, has recently
paid a flying visit to   ashington.     I thought
it would be useful to take advantage of his
visit to arrange for an informal meeting between
him and Admiral Qreenslade and the members of
the Board which is considering the various
questions connected with the new American bases
in the British possessions in the Caribbean and
elsewhere.
At this meeting, which took place on
i^ecember oth, the Governor explained the reasons
for which he felt obliged to call attention to
certain objections to the proposal to establish
the United .states Naval base in the North estern
Peninsula/
i'he .ionourable
Cordell Hull,
hT:FRHM:MA3
Secretary of Utate of the United states,
ashin^ton, D. C.
IP
- 2 -
Peninsula.     He also pointed out certain factors
arising from the climatic conditions and the
nature of the subsoil which seemed to render
the Curauto reserve site unsuitable for the
proposed array and air base.    In addition he
explained the intentions of the Government
of i'rinidad to reclaim the Caroni area and
suggested that it might be possible to establish
both the proposed naval base and the proposed
army and air base within this area.    In support
of his arguments, :3ir Hubert Young quoted from
four memoranda which had been drawn up at his request
by certain persons in Trinidad.
rhe American representatives at the
meeting were good enough to say that they would
give full consideration to the arguments advanced
by the Governor, would study the four memoranda,
and would consider whether in the light of the
information now placed at their disposal it would
be possible for the United States authorities to
modify their original proposals in regard to the
location/
location of the proposed bases*     I therefore
enclose copies of the four memoranda herein
and hope that they, together with the Governor1
statements* may be sympathetically considered
by the United states authorities.
delieve me.
Dear ..r. Secretary.
Very sincerely yours.
(SOD) Wi'HXAN