Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 2.djvu/580

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [62 STAT. February 24, 1948 [T. I. A. S.1717] 54 Stat. 2405. "The Bases Agree- ment." 55 Stat. 1560 . 55 Stat. 1565 . Agreement and accompanying notes between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland respecting the use by civil aircraft of certain military air bases in the Caribbean area and Bermuda. Signed at Washington February 24, 1948; entered into force February 24, 1948. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND CONCERNING THE OPENING OF CERTAIN MILITARY AIR BASES IN THE CARIBBEAN AREA AND BERMUDA TO USE BY CIVIL AIRCRAFT WHEREAS, in pursuance of Notes exchanged on September 2, 1940, an Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "the Bases Agreement") was made on March 27, 1941, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as "the two Governments"), providing for the lease to the United States of certain areas in the Western Hemisphere, upon the terms and con- ditions set out in the Bases Agreement; AND WHEREAS, in pursuance of the said Notes and of the Bases Agreement, naval and air Bases have been established in the areas aforesaid; AND WHEREAS Article XI (5) of the Bases Agreement provides that "commercial aircraft will not be authorized to operate from any of the Bases (save in case of emergency or for strictly military purposes under supervision of the War or Navy Departments) except by agree- ment between the United States and the Government of the United Kingdom; provided that in the case of Newfoundland such agreement shall be between the United States and the Government of Newfound- land"; AND WHEREAS the two Governments recognize that there are special circumstances connected with the Bases; AND WHEREAS the two Governments desire to foster and encourage the widest possible distribution of the benefits of air travel for the general good of mankind at the cheapest rates consistent with sound economic principles; and to stimulate international air travel as a means of promoting friendly understanding and good will among peoples and ensuring as well the many indirect benefits of this form of transportation to the common welfare of both countries; AND WHEREAS the two Governments desire to arrange for certain of the air Bases aforesaid to be available for use by civil aircraft without interfering with, restricting or limiting the present military rights of the United States in, or the continued military use by the 1860

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