No.884c
(A 4988/3742/45),
SECRET
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
15 J*
¦
11th December, 19400
29*1* l«*
My Lord Marquess, ^
I transmit herewith a copy of a note of the
4th October by the Civil Aviation Department of the
Air Ministry, drawing attention to the importance of
excluding the sites at present in use or in
contemplation for commercial air transport services from
the scope of the negotiations for the lease of bases in
British territories to the United States Government, and
expressing the opinion that the use of these bases
should be limited to defence purposes. As at present
advised, His Majesty's Government accept the standpoint
adopted in this paper as a basis for discussion when the
experts meet in London to determine the text of the final
leases* In particular it is felt that if the bases were
to be made available for civil aviation purposes, such
a concession would inevitably give rise todemands for
similar facilities in other non-military respects^ It
appears probable that the United States authorities
themselves do not intend that the leased areas should
be made available for civil aircraft, having reg.ard to
the fact that Pan-American Airways applied on the 14th
October to the Government of Trinidad for a 99 year
lease at the present Piarco aerodrome, which they
presumably would not have done if they were awaiting the
grant of facilities themselves in the area to be leased
to the United States Government in that islando It is also
to be noted that no specific reference to the use of
the bases by commercial aircraft is contained in
the original draft lease put forward by the United
States authorities, which Your Lordship rejected when it
was submitted to you by Colonel Knox (vide the enclosure
to Mr* Butler's despatch No*937 of the 29th October).
2*     It is at the same time appreciated that,
acting upon instructions which related to the earlier
decision of the War Cabinet ^n the 29th July to grant
facilities to Pan-American Airways in certain British
West Indian Islands, you stipulated, both in a letter
to Mr. SumUer Welles of the 8th August and subsequently
in your note to the State Department No»459 of the
26th September, that the unconditional use of air
facilities should be available to any British air
transport undertaking engaged in the operation of
services between the West Indies and North and South
Americao In this connexion I enclose copies of a
r >
departmental/
His Excellency
The Most Honourable
The Marquess of Lothian,   K-T.,C H.,
etc*,    etc>,     etc*,
Washington*

departmental minute describing the developments which
rendered the above-mentioned instructions no longer
applicable to the situation, as also of a minute by the
Foreign Office Legal Adviser commenting upon what has
occurredo
3.     I should be grateful if, after considering
the position, you would take whatever action you may
deem appropriate to reserve the position of His Majesty's
Government with regard to civil aviation. You should
in 8ny case not agree to any United States suggestion
that the bases should be used for commercial aircraft
without further reference to me for instructions.
I am, with great truth anr" respect,
My Lord Marquess,
YourExcellency1s obedient Servant,
(For the Secretary of State)