EARLIER REPORTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 6

EARLIER REPORTS

NEGOTIATIONS PROCEED PRESIDENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT Reports that Britain and the United States of America were negotiating for the exchange of strategical British islands in the Western Hemisphere for American destroyers and torpedo boats first revealed by an American journalist in the New York Post about the middle of August. State officials in Washington, however, denied the suggestions. The original reports were that Britain also offered permission for the United States to build, army, navy and air force bases in ahy British territory in the western hemisphere, It has not been denied that Britain has made frequent appeals to Washington for permission to purchase urgently old United States Navy destroyers. President’s Statements Referring to these reports President Roosevelt stated at a press conference that the United States Government was holding conversations with the British Empire regarding the acquisition of naval and air bases for the defence of the Western Hemisphere and especially the Panama Canal. He said the negotiations for bases were not related to the question of selling 50 destroyers to Britain, although negotiations were on a quid pro quo basis. Before the Conference it was widely speculated that the United States would acquire bases in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and other islands strategically important for Panama