Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 54 Part 2.djvu/1186

 54 STAT.] GREAT BRITAIN-NAVAL AND AIR BASES-SEPT. 2, 1940 of naval and air bases and facilities for entrance thereto and the operation and protection thereof, on the Avalon Peninsula and on the southern coast of Newfoundland, and on the east coast and on the Great Bay of Bermuda. Furthermore, in view of the above and in view of the desire of the United States to acquire additional air and naval bases in the Caribbean and in British Guiana, and without endeavour- ing to place a monetary or commercial value upon the many tangible and intangible rights and properties involved, His Maj- esty's Government will make available to the United States for immediate establishment and use naval and air bases and facili- ties for entrance thereto and the operation and protection thereof, on the eastern side of the Bahamas, the southern coast of Ja- maica, the western coast of St. Lucia, the west coast of Trinidad in the Gulf of Paria, in the island of Antigua and in British Guiana within fifty miles of Georgetown, in exchange for naval and military equipment and material which the United States Government will transfer to His Majesty's Government. All the bases and facilities referred to in the preceding para- graphs will be leased to the United States for a period of ninety- nine years, free from all rent and charges other than such compensation to be mutually agreed on to be paid by the United States in order to compensate the owners of private property for loss by expropriation or damage arising out of the estab- lishment of the bases and facilities in question. His Majesty's Government, in the leases to be agreed upon, will grant to the United States for the period of the leases all the rights, power, and authority within the bases leased, and within the limits of the territorial waters and air spaces adjacent to or in the vicinity of such bases, necessary to provide access to and defence of such bases, and appropriate provisions for their control. Without prejudice to the above-mentioned rights of the United States authorities and their jurisdiction within the leased areas, the adjustment and reconciliation between the jurisdiction of the authorities of the United States within these areas and the juris- diction of the authorities of the territories in which these areas are situated, shall be determined by common agreement. The exact location and bounds of the aforesaid bases, the neces- sary seaward, coast and anti-aircraft defences, the location of sufficient military garrisons, stores and other necessary auxili- ary facilities shall be determined by common agreement. His Majesty's Government are prepared to designate immedi- ately experts to meet with experts of the United States for these purposes. Should these experts be unable to agree in any parti- cular situation, except in the case of Newfoundland and Ber- muda, the matter shall be settled by the Secretary of State of the United States and His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. 2407 Additional bases made available on ex- change basis. Duration of leae. 193470-41-PT. l- - 74

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