2. There have been two reasons for the long delay in executing the Lease. In the first place the two Air Forces took many months to settle the metes and bounds. Then the difficulties we were having with the United States regarding the terms on which GLOBECOM⁴¹ stations could be established at various points in Newfoundland became mixed up with the discussion of the Goose Bay Lease, and it was thought best to postpone signing the Goose Bay Lease until the GLOBECOM question had been settled in principle. We have now reached that stage, and we shall be able in the near future to submit to Cabinet for official approval the revised formula on tenure of the GLOBECOM station at Harmon which you and Mr. Claxton tentatively approved some weeks ago. The GLOBECOM station at Northwest River, near Goose Bay, will be taken care of by a document which will be supplementary to the Goose Bay Lease but which need not be signed at the time the Lease itself is signed.

3. Although there is still some detail work to be done before the papers regarding the GLOBECOM stations can be signed, the United States Embassy on September 4 told us that the United States Government and in particular the Secretary of Defense is most anxious to avoid any further delay in the signature of the Goose Bay Lease itself (and the two collateral letters on metes and bounds and privileges). It seems to me that there is no reason to refuse the request of the United States to complete the Lease forthwith. GLOBECOM is not mentioned in the Lease and, subject to final Cabinet approval, solutions have been found, and have been approved by you and Mr. Claxton, to the GLOBECOM question.

4. If you and Mr. Claxton agree, we shall arrange to have the exchange of notes constituting the Lease and the two collateral letters set up for signature and exchanged forthwith. Presumably they will be signed by Mr. Claxton as Acting Secretary of State for External Affairs.

5. As you know, it was agreed last year that the exchange of notes constituting the Lease, but not the two collateral letters, will be made public. Annexed for convenient reference is the text of the draft press release which you and Mr. Claxton approved some time ago and which has been cleared with the United States.^?42 It would suggest that the press release, with the text of the Lease, be issued on the day following the signature. When Parliament meets the Lease can be tabled.

6. In view of the fact that Cabinet approved the text of the Lease back in February 1951, you or Mr. Claxton may wish to mention to Cabinet the reasons for the delay in signature and the fact that the signature is to take place shortly. The delay in signature has not impeded authorized U.S. activities at Goose Bay.

L.D. W[ILGRESS]