with the Americans on the return of the US Naval Air Station.

The Hon. Sir John Swan said Bermuda's Base Committee planned to meet monthly with the Americans, and the membership of three Government subcommittees would be named next week.

"We have to get down to the details of things, and then we will get a better grasp of what the various issues are,'' he said. "I am guardedly optimistic.'' Capt. Timothy Bryan, the Commanding Officer of USNAS Bermuda who heads the American delegation, said it was "a great first meeting'' at which the format for future meetings was decided.

Deputy Governor Mr. John Kelly, who is expected to be mainly a United Kingdom observer at the talks, said it was "very much a preliminary meeting'' which "got the ball rolling.'' As expected, the United States announced officially yesterday that it would quit the Base effective September 1, 1995.

A joint statement by the Premier and Capt. Bryan said the 45-minute meeting at the Cabinet Building was partly used to discuss access to the Base for those involved in the turnover of operations.

"Capt. Bryan told the meeting that it was the intention of the United States to return all leased land to Bermuda, with the exception of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) station at Cooper's Island and the facility at Tudor Hill in Southampton.'' The Premier now must name members of Government committees to deal with air operations, future use of the lands, and infrastructure.

Meetings of the negotiating committee would alternate between the Cabinet Building and the Base.

"Capt. Bryan stressed that one of the principal US goals in the negotiations was the preservation of friendly, supportive relations and a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect among all concerned,'' the statement said.

Also at the meeting were Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman, Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman, Attorney General Mr. Walter Maddocks, Assistant Cabinet Secretary Mr. John Drinkwater, Acting US Consul General Dr. Stephen Kish, and five members of the US military.