Evening star., 1940-09-03
Presidents Letter to Congress.

Presidents Letter to Congress.
To the Congress Of the United
States:
I transmit herewith for the infor-
nation Of the Congress notes ex-
changed between the British Am
bassador at Washington and the
Secretary of State on September 2,
1910, under which this Government
has acquired the right to lease naval
and air bases in Newfoundland, and
in the islands Of Bermuda, the Ba-
hamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad
and Antigua, and in British Guiana;
also aecopy of an opinion of the
Attorney General dated August 27,
1910, regarding my authority to con-
summate this arrangement.
The right to bases in Newfound-
land and Bermuda are gifts-gen-
erously given and gladly received.
The other bases mentioned have
been acquired In exchange for so
Of our average destroyers.
This Is, not inconsistent in any
sense with our status Of peace. Still
less is it . threat against any ma
ton. It Is an epochal and far
reaching sact of preparation for
continental defense in the face of
grave danger.
Preparation for defense is an in
alienable prerogative Of a sovereign
state. Under present circumstances,
this exercise of sovereign right is
essential to the maintenance of our
peace and safety. This is the most
important action in the reinforce
ment of our national defense that
has been taken since the Louisiana
Purchase. Then, as now, considera-
tions of safety from overseas at
tack were fundamental
The value to the Western Hemi-
sphere of these outposts of security
is beyond calculation. Their need
has long been recognized by our
country, and especially by those pri-
marily charged with the duty of
charting and organizing our own
naval and military defense. They
are essential to the protection of the
Panama Canal, Central America, the
northern portion of South America,
the Antilles, Canada, Mexico and our
own eastern and gulf seaboards.
Their consequent importance in
hemisphere defense Is obvious. For
these reasons have taken advan-
tage of the present opportunity to
acquire them.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 3, 1910.
u. S. Note to British,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON.
September 2, 1910.
Excellency:
I have received your note Of Sep
tember 2, l94p, of.which the text is
as follows:
have the honour under in
structions from His Majesty's
Principal Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs to inform you
that in view of the friendly and
sympathetic interest of His
Majesty's Government in the
United Kingdom in the national
security of the United States and
their desire to strengthen the
ability of the United States to
cooperate effectively with the
other nations of the Americas in
the defense of the Western Hem
isphere, His Majesty's Govern
ment will secure the grant to the
Government of the United States,
freely and without consideration,
of the lease for immediate estab-
ishment and use of naval and
air bases and facilities for en-
trance 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 endeav-
oring to place q monetary or
commercial value upon the
many tangible and intangible
rights and properties involved.
his majesty's government will
make available to the United
States for immediate establish-
ment and use naval and air