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NEX II.

AIDE-MEMOIRE.

COMEND IN TËRRITURIJS IN WHICH SUTH THE UNITED STATES AND CURSELVES WILL

LAVE MUTUAL DEFENCE INTERESTS.

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It is the underlying intention of the exchange of notes of the 2nd September, 1940, that British Sovereignty is to remain unimpaired in the territories in which areas are to be leased for defence purposes to the United States. This involves that the ultimate command should rest, as in the case of all other British territories, with the British Governor and Commander-in-Chief. *

2.

The Governor and Commander-in-Chief, acting in accordance with his constitutional functions, would be responsible in consultation with the Senior British and United States Commanders in ais territory for the preparation of a defence scheme for the co-ordination of the defence arrangements of the territory.

3.

This scheme would include provision for a single military commander, who may be either a British or an American officer, to assume control of the combined forces under the authority of the Governor in the event of a threat to the security of the territory. would also include provision for the disposition of the combined forces.

4.

It

These defence schemes would be submitted for approval to the United States Government and to the British or Dominion government concerned.

5.

The condition of "threat to the security of the territory" on which military control is assumed by a single military Commander (see paragraph 3) would be declared by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the territory, prior approval of the Governments concerned being obtained if time permits.

6.

With reference to the question of command in individual defence schemes it is considered that in Bermuda the single military commander (referred to in paragraph 3 above) should be British as in this island we have an important strategic interest in our naval base and a regular garrison.

In Trinidad Antigua, St. Lucia, British Guiana and the Bahamas, the United States defence commitments

7.

>

In the case of Jamaica, Captain-General

and Governor-in-Chief.

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