3
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON
December 27, 1940
My dear Mr. Butler:
I refer to your letters of December 7 and 13, 1940,
In regard to the proposed American bases in Trinidad.
Your letters and their enclosures have received the
careful and sympathetic consideration of the appropriate
authorities of the United States Government. Likewise
the oral comments which His Excellency, Sir Hubert Young,
the Governor of Trinidad, made in the meeting which took
place with four officers of the United States Government
have been carefully considered.
After a thorough review of the proposed bases in
Trinidad in the light of the material presented by the
authorities of that Island, we have reached the conclu-
sion that the proposal submitted by His Excellency the
Governor cannot be accepted by the Government of the
Unit ed
Mr. N. M. Butler, C.V.O
Charge d'Affalres ad interim of
Great Britain.
-2-
United States.   As regards the proposed naval base, our
experts comment as follows:
"Careful study of the volumes of exca-
vation required to provide adequate drainage
of the Ceroni area, 9,000,000 cu. yds. as
presented by Messrs. Grinnell and Beard, and
of the volumes of fill, 98,000,000 cu. yds.,
estimated by these gentlemen to make the area
usable, shows that at least five years would
be required before effective construction of
military and naval shore installations could
be undertaken.    Further, this determination
of time is based on most optimistic estimates
of capacity of all equipment that could pos-
sibly be used on the site, even if it were
available.    Calculations made by the War and
Navy Departments of the additional volume of
fill material required to raise the proposed
level of the reclaimed land to a satisfactory
elevation, plus the volumes required to provide
minimum surface drainage slopes and an allowance
for subsidence of the new fills and the under-
lying swamp, indicate that the volume estimated
by the Trinidad authorities must be greatly in-
creased.   Time would be increased correspond-
ingly.
"The time element alone precludes the use
of the Caronl area.    Further serious objections
such as water supply and sanitation, and dredg-
ing of an approach channel and harbor are not
discussed here.
"The site selected for the naval base is
the most suitable for fleet and seaplane re-
quirements.   The military advantages of this
site are prescribed in Enclosure B of the re-
port of the Board of Experts, Trinidad, dated
October 23, 1940.    The outstanding advantages,
not afforded by any other site on the island
are:
(a)
(a)
Its strategic location;
Its accessibility to deep water;
The proximity of sheltered areas
for seaplane operation; and,
The possibility of immediate
occupancy."
(a)
The comments of the American experts concerning the
Information furnished by His Excellency the Governor in
respect to the inland area selected for the United States
Army Installations may be summarized as follows:
"The indicated rainfall of about 100
inches for the Long Stretch and Cumuto
Reserves, selected for the Army installa-
tions, though higher than the 80 inches
indicated for the Caroni area, is offset
by the steeper slopes existing in the area
first mentioned.   Almost all of the area
lies above the 100-foot contour, and ditch-
ing will provide adequate drainage. It
should be noted that the area described as
water-logged in the report by Mr. Brooks
is not to be developed for habitation, but
is to be used for an airfield, and supply
installations are to be built along the
railroad.   The Piarco Aerodrome, which is
built on similar ground at a lower eleva-
tion, appears to be satisfactorily drained.
The usefulness of this section is indicated
by the existing ammunition depot.   The area
north of the Eastern Road provides excellent
sites for housing of the garrison.   The water
supply catchment, also north of the road, will
aid in reducing flood hazards in the low lands."
In these circumstances, we are convinced that the
recommendations of the G-reenslade Board are sound, and
that the facilities proposed represent the most suitable
ones
ones available in the Island.   We believe that the
special natural advantages of the site recommended
for naval operations greatly outweigh the considerations
advanced by the Trinidad authorities against their use
for naval purposes.    I therefore enclose in triplicate
a draft lease covering the facilities which the Govern-
ment of the United States desires to lease in accordance
v/ith the basic exchange of notes of September 3, 1940.
The appropriate American authorities have taken
into account the comments of His Excellency, the Governor
of Trinidad, in regard to the importance which is attached
in that Island to the continued use by the local popula-
tion of the bathing beaches in the vicinity of the pro-
posed United States naval base, and they are disposed
to view sympathetically the possibility of the use of
these beaches to such extent as may be found practicable.
I should greatly appreciate receiving the comments
of your Government on this draft lease at the earliest
possible date.
Sincerely yours,
Enclosure:
Draft lease
triplicate.