pledged to help Bermuda on the US Base issue.

But Dr. Manfred Worner, in a meeting here with Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, said he first had to know whether the Supreme Allied Command for the Atlantic (SACLANT) saw a military value in maintaining a Bermuda base.

The news came as The Royal Gazette learned the US Congress is considering a measure which could lead to the Base closing in 90 days.

"Personally, I can help,'' Dr. Worner told the Premier. "I do not say that lightly. We can talk to the Americans if SACLANT defines a clear strategic requirement (for Bermuda).'' Dr. Worner's offer was the high point in a blitz of meetings with key NATO-based officials, who all expressed support for the Premier's efforts while not mincing words about the complex task he faces in reducing the impact of a US military withdrawal from the Island.

More than once, the Premier heard that his diplomatic push hinged on an assessment of Bermuda's military value by SACLANT, which determines military operations for the Atlantic region.

One meeting participant touched on the importance of the SACLANT judgment when he said: "NATO does not see a role on Bermuda unless SACLANT does.'' As a result, Sir John asked the US and UK Ambassadors to NATO to arrange a meeting between him and Admiral Paul Miller, Supreme Allied Commander for the Atlantic.

The meeting could take place in Norfolk, Virginia next week when the Premier will be in Washington to meet Mr. John Dalton, the new Secretary of the Navy, and US Congressional leaders who have an influential say on the future of the Base.

The Premier's task is pressured by the legislative plan that could see Congress withdraw funds for the Base within months.

Defence Authorisation Bill FY94 is moving to a Senate/House of Representatives conference later this month.

The bill would authorise the withdrawal of funding for the US Naval Air Station in St. David's 90 days after it is passed.

The Bermuda effort to stem such an abrupt closure of the Base has already led to communications between the office of Prime Minister John Major, whom the Premier met in July, and the White House.

Sources indicate the UK Government has taken on the Premier's concerns and is urging the US to give Bermuda sufficient time to help it assume responsibility for managing any operations left by the US military.

Sir John, who has stated Bermuda does not have the skilled people to take over operations such as air traffic control, is pushing for a five-year withdrawal plan.

Closure of the Base could cost Bermuda $18-23 million a year.

The Premier's diplomatic effort is taking place against the backdrop of newsman Sam Donaldson's damning report last December on the US Naval Air Station which triggered the Congressional action.

While the challenge remains of trying to turn around congressional opinion, yesterday's meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels revealed an across the board willingness to maintain a military base in Bermuda, albeit in a more scaled down, stand-by status.

In two separate meetings, top military officials introduced the idea of an arrangement that could see Bermuda share the costs of taking over any operations for which military authorities see a future use.

Adm. Herbert von Foreest (Retd.), Assistant Secretary General responsible for NATO infrastructure said that any kind of shared cost agreement would have to be between Bermuda, the UK, the US and NATO.

Congress to consider rapid closure of St. David's Base The "contract'', which could be tailor-made for Bermuda, would involve the Bermuda Government committing money to facilities and operations.

One source later added that General Colin Powell, the outgoing chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, thought cost-sharing was the best route for Bermuda.

Adm. Foreest also said NATO would like to retain use of the Base for times of international tensions and war.

Despite the remarks, the meetings concluded that continued US involvement -- that is, US money in the Base, was critical to any Base-saving arrangement.

Without it, officials said NATO and SACLANT could not support or maintain any kind of presence on the Island. The US, as "host nation'' of the Base, would have to commit the lion's share of funding.

"The key is very much what the US will do in the future,'' said Sir John Weston, UK Ambassador to NATO.

The challenge of persuading budget-cutting US politicians to continue with the Base in Bermuda promises to be formidable. NATO itself has been stung this year by US reluctance to commit money for minimum upkeep of the organisation's infrastructure.

NATO as well is wracked by shrinking budgets. It was the reason behind Adm.

Foreest's telling the Premier he could give no guarantee that a scheduled $11 million Airport runway and lighting restoration for 1995-96 would be approved by the 16-member organisation.

At the end of the day, Premier Swan was buoyed by the content and tenor of his meetings.

"There is a willingness to cooperate with us as much as practically possible,'' he said. "Now we have to continue the communication process with all parties so we can find some level of accommodation that is seen as reasonable by them all.'' The Premier said the cost sharing option raised at the meetings was "something we will have to talk about. It could require extensive negotiations later but what we have done here at least has laid a sort of foundation.

"Now we go back to America and SACLANT and try to make sure Congress doesn't move in a precipitous way.''