BRITAIN AND AMERICA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21193, 16 August 1940, Page 6

BRITAIN AND AMERICA

SENSATIONAL STORY DENIED ISLAND FOR WARSHIPS APPEALS FOR PURCHASE S (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 16, 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 Reports published in a New York newspaper stating that Britain and the United States are negotiating for the exchange of a strategic British island for American warships, are denied in Washington. Mr Stephen Early, secretary to Mr Roosevelt, said he had checked the report with Mr Roosevelt, who replied emphatically: “ It is just another story.” Previously the State Department denied knowledge of negotiations. NEW YORK, Aug. 15 The story to which Mr Early refers is that of the New York Post’s correspondent from Washington declaring that negotiations are approaching a climax for the exchange of British islands in the Western Hemisphere for United States destroyers and torpedo-boats. It adds that the Navy’s objections have been overcome by an offer of strategic islands, also permission to the United States to build Army, Navy and Air bases in any British territory in the Western Hemisphere. WASHINGTON, Aug. 15

Mr H. Morgenthau told the Press Conference that the British are repeating weekly urgent appeals for permission to buy old United States destroyers.

In reply to a question as to whether they had discussed trading an island, he said: “ I am not going into that.”