DISPUTE SETTLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 6

DISPUTE SETTLED

UNITED STATES SITES IN TRINIDAD

NAVAL BASE AND AIRFIELDS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Jan. 12, 9.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Jan. 11. The State Department announced that the dispute over the United States naval base site in Trinidad has been settled and U.S.A, has secured the site originally selected. A party of United States legal experts is going to England shortly to draft final leases for all bases. Received Jan. 12. 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 11. The Colonial Office announced that a final agreement has been reached on sites for the United States naval, army and air voice bases in Trinidad, comprising eleven square miles for the naval base on islands north-west of the peninsula, 18 square miles in the centre of the island for the main army and air bases, with a small area elsewhere for an auxiliary airfield, supply wharves, water supply and recreation facilities. The original United States proposals seemed to involve a disturbance oE the normal life of the community and put the naval base on a site which comprised access to the island’s chief holiday ground. The Trinidad Government suggested alternatives which the United States regretfully rejected, whereupon Britain, with the full concurrence of the Trinidad Government, accepted the original propospals but pointed out that they involve sacrifices by the islanders. The United States readily gave an assurance to do the utmost to minimise the disturbance to the community.