ISLANDS IN PACIFIC.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 227, 23 August 1940, Page 7

ISLANDS IN PACIFIC.

AGREEMENTS WITH U.S. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. 21. A statement in Mr Churchill’s speech in the House of Commons that “various agreements have been reached (with the United States) about certain small islands in the Pacific which have become important as air fuelling points” seems to have given rise to some misapprehension. In authoritative quarters it is believed the agreements referred to were those relating to Canton and Endero.y Islands, reached in 1938.

On August 11, 1938, a joint communique was made by the United States and Britain that they were going “to set up a regime for the use in common” of these islands. The arrangement was made for the purpose of international aviation and communications, and each party was to have equal facilities. Notes on the details of the arrangement which were exchanged bv the two Governments on April 16, 1939, provided for joint American and British official control of the islands with a special ad hoc regime. Only civil transport comnanies incorporated in the United .States and the Empire were to use the islands, and it was arranged that the United States should build an air base - and the British Empire should have the use of it. All the facilities publicly foreshadowed were, of course, civil. This arrangement was for 50 years with the possibility of continuing it indefinitely. It is thought possible that these facilities may be extended to other uses should the occasion arise. i