THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 4, 1940
Anglo-American Naval Agreement Concluded DESTROYERS FOR BRITAIN: BASES FOR U.S. Far-Reaching And Epochal Act
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TOLD CONGRESS YESTERDAY THAT THE UNITED STATES IS TRANSFERRING, 50 OVER-AGE DESTROY- ERS TO BRITAIN AGAINST LEASES OF NAVAL AND AIR BASES IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH ATLANTIC.
The United States will acquire naval bases in Newfoundland and the islands of Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad, Antigua and in British Guiana.
"Rights to bases in Newfoundland and
Bermuda are gifts generously given and glad- ISOLATIONIST
COMMENT
KEEPING
FRONT DOOR CLEAR
President Roosevelt,
in the train en route to Washington yes- terday, declared the chief value of the new naval and air bases to the U.S.A. was they would keep an enemy away from the United States' front door. Reuter.
ly received," President Roosevelt said. The other bases mentioned have been acquired in exchange for the 50 over-age destroyers.
eral's view that the arrangement did not require Congressiona In his message to Congress announcing
First American Isola-faction, Senator Nye declared: the Anglo-American naval agreement, Pre- tionist comment on the "This indicates our leadership i already using dictatorial practice: sident Roosevelt declared: "It is not incon-Anglo-American na valin ignoring laws and treaties ir
came from the name of emergency."
Senator Barkley, Democrat sistent in any sense with our status at peace:
Senator Gerald Nye. Majority Leader, fully approved still less is it a threat against any nation..
Referring to the Attorney-Gen- the arrangement.-Reuter.
"It is an epochal and reaching act in preparation -continental defence in the
of grave danger.
.
far Hull, dated September 2, informs for the latter that "in view of the
and face basis of friendship
sym- pathetic Interest of His Majesty's "Preparation for defence la Government in the United King- the inalienable prerogative of dom in the national security of a sovereign State and under the United States and their desire present circumstances this ex-jto strengthen the ability of the ercise of sovereign right is United States to cooperate effec- essential for the maintenance tively with other nations of the of our peace and safety. Americas in the defence of the "This is the most important Western Hemisphere, His Ma- action in the reinforcement of jesty's Government will grant the our national defence that has United States freely and without been taken since the Louisiana consideration a lease for the im- purchase. (under which the Unit-mediate establishment of naval ed States acquired from Napo-and air bases and facilities for leon the great embryo French em- entrance thereto and the protec- pire west of the Mississippi). tion thereof, on the Avalon Peninsula cand on, the southern Safety Fundamental. coast of Newfoundland and on "Then, as how, considerations the east coast and the Great Bay
of safety against attack from of Bermuda." overseas were fundamental.
"The value to the Western Exchange Agreement Hemisphere of these outpaats).
tion.
and British Guiana and without
agreement
AGREEMENT GIVEN WARM WELCOME
IN LONDON
FIRST LORD PLEASED WITH BARGAIN
The utmost pleasure and satisfaction at the ar- rangement regarding U.S. destroyers was expressed by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alex- ander, in a statement in London last night.
Mr. Alexander declared: "They come at a time when the strain upon our destroyer fleet has been very great and they will be of inestimable value to us not only for escorting convoys but also for protecting our coasts from the threat of invasion," Reuter.
PETAIN'S APPEAL TO COLONIES
MARSHAL PETAIN, DICTA- TOR OF FRANCE, APPEALED TO THE FRENCH EMPIRE TO STAND BY THE VICHY GOV- ERNMENT IN A BROADCAST YESTERDAY WHICH HE EN- TITLED "A MESSAGE OF TRUTH AND.CONFIDENCE."
France, he said, has lost three- fifths. of her territory through German occupation. But her strong as ever and unity is as
::
The first duty of the. French.
Vichy Government.
THE SUCCESSFUL conclusion of the nothing could prevail against it. Anglo-American Agreement, it was stated in Empire, said Marshal Petain, is authoritative quarters in London last night, to obey, the second to help the will be greeted with the greatest possible An official Vichy decree yester- satisfaction by the British Government and the people of the Commonwealth.
From the Notes exchanged, says Reuter's
day confirmed the dismissal of from French Indo-China and also dismissed the Secretary-General of New Caledonia, which, has announced
General Catroux
its intention to carry on the war
and Britain. Reuter.
DIJON COUNCIL
SUSPENDED:
of security is beyond calcula~| The Note continues that in
The need for them has view of the desire of the United diplomatic correspondent, it is quite clear at the side of General de Gaulle long been recognised by thos States to acquire additional air primarily charged. with the duty of charting and organis and naval bases in the Caribbean that the British Commonwealth and the Unit- ing our own national naval and endeavouring to place monetary ed States have evolved, during the negotia- military defence,
or commercial value upon the tions, a practical method of contributing "They are essential to the pro-
many tangible tection of the Panama Canal,
rights and properties involved, materially and effectively to each other's de- Central America and the nor-
His Majesty's Government will thern portion of South America,
make available to the United fence requirements. Antilles, Canada, Mexico and
States for the immediate estab- our own eastern and Gulf (Me-lishment and use of naval
Britain was very anxious to be cited as an example of the xican) seaboards and their con-air bases on the eastern side of acquire additional destroyers for way the Democracies can assure sequent importance in the
de-
and intangible
and
fence of the Hemisphere is obthe Bahamas, "the southern coast Convoy work, to deal with sub"]their own and common interests.]
vious.
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") The Petain Government yes- terday announced the suspension of the Dijon municipal council, the majority of whose members are Socialists. Havas.
VICHY'S FINANCE
of Jamaica, the western coast of marines and to keep open the
The destroyers will be used in which to pass of channels through
⠀'MINISTRY' For these reasons I have taken Trinidad, in the Gulf of
Saint Lucia, the west coast
Paria, transports to United States and the same way as British destroy- advantage of the present oppor in the island of Antigua and in other ports.
ers. They will be brought over [SPECIAL TO "CHINA. MAIL"]
An announcement in the offi- tunity to acquire them."
On the other hand, the United by British crews.
Some of them were used in the cial Gazette in Vichy yesterday The President enclosed in his British Guiana within 50 miles
for States has acquired 99-year leases
they are provides for the reorganisation message to Congress an opinion of Georgetown, in exchange
no of the French Finance. Ministry. by the Attorney-General, Mr. Rb-military equipment and material of certain sea and air facilities neutrality patrol and
which the United States will in the Panama Canal Zone and thought to require little or bert Jackson, dated August 27, in transfer to the British
-Havas, alteration. Reuter. on the Atlantic seu- Govern-elsewhere- regard to his authority to consum-
¡ment.
board. mate the agreement.
It stated no action of Congrass
would be necessary to put the
ミ
agreement into effect.
99-Year Leases ---
While President Roosevelt's
message was being read to Con gress,
The Prime Minister has made it clear in the House of Coni- mona that there is no question of any transfer- of sovereignty. The, administrations in the ter
The air bases referred to In the preceding paragraph will be leased for a period of 99 years free from all rent and charges other than mutually agreed compensation to owners ritories concerned, have been-con-· of private property.
sulted and have concurred, psi »r
an official announcement. The British Government, in the have the Dominions Governments,
on the treaty made in London leases' to
be agreed upon, will
said the agreement, which was gront the United States all rights, Three. Main Purposes signed in Washington on Monday, power and authority within provides for the immediate trans-bases leased and within the limits
ers.
American Continent.
the
CANADA GIVES FULL APPROVAL
GENERAL PLEASURE was expressed in Otta-
The defence requirements of Wa yesterday at the Anglo-American agreement fer to Britain of 50 U.S. destroy-of territorial waters and air spaces the British Commonwealth and which, it is thought, will bring the United States to
in the vicinity of such bases ne-the United States tend to over- Britain will make available to cessary to provide access to them lap in the Western Hemisphere a clearer view of problems facing the Empire in the
and parallel negotiations on this war against totalitarianism., the United States on a 99-year and protection of them.
subject are proceeding between toase certain naval. and air.
Common Agreement the United States, and Conada.. Many Canadians contend. this latest action is facilition in British territory an
The agreement can be said to the best the United States can do for the Allied war the seaboard of the North The exact location and bounds serve three main purposes. First, Notes accompanying the agree of the bases are to be determin- it provides timely reinforcement efforts apart from an expeditionary force, which is
Bri- of the British Navy in the task not expected. ment make it clear that the Bri-ed by common agreement. tish Commonwealth and the Unit-tain is prepared immediately to of maintaining control of the At-
With American bases on the Munitions.stated yesterday.... ed States evolved during the ne-designate experts to meet United lantic.. Secondly, it will con-
tribute to the security, of the qutposts of the Western Hemis that new factories, costing-ap- proximately $17,500,000, are gotiations a practical method of States experts for this purpose.
Board contributing. materially and; ef- Mr. Cordell Hull, in a Note to United States, a fact which the phere and a permanent joint De-
studying joint boing added Immediately to
defences,
Canada's rapidly fectively to reach other's defence Lord Lothian, gladly accepts the people of the British Common-fence
expanding British proposals and declares wealth recognise to be of vital American - Canadian
programme of Industrial. ' do requirements.
Reuter learns that British that in consideration of the Bri-importance. Thirdly, it streng Canada as well as Britain will
Impenetrable for- velopment to meet the wartime thens the material defence of the soon be 'un crews will bring the destroyers tish declarations,
tress, permitting the uninterrupt demand for guns and matoriale. "The Government of the United Western Hemisphere.
materials The factories would 3- begin across the Atlantic.
States will immediately transfer It may fairly be pointed out ed production of war Without Consideration to His Majesty's Government: 60 that such an important agreement and the despatch of expedition- operating in 1941 and would em-
attack Hitlerian ploy thousands in the manufac The text of a Noto from Lord United States Navy destroyers could never be realised except Injury forces to
ture of chemicals, guns and Lothian, the British Ambassador, generally referred to as the 1,200-an atmosphere of mutual con-territory,
Minister The Canadian- fidence and good will and It may
of wireless. Reuter, to Secretary of State Cordell Iton typo."-Reuter,.........
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