refusal to clean up the mess left behind at its former Island bases, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Ms Gordon's paper offensive targets every member of crucial US Congressional defence committees involved in armed forces finance in a bid to force the US government's hand -- straight into its pocket.

And Congressmen and Senators who have signalled sympathy with Bermuda's case have also received copies of the hard-hitting letter.

And a response to a investigation of the Bases carried out last year by US experts is also being prepared by Government environmental authorities.

The twin-pronged attack comes as the American government moves closer to a final debate on the Bermuda bases issue -- and a decision on whether the US Navy will be made to clear up pollution on its former installations on the Island.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons -- who, with Ms Gordon, has spearheaded negotiations with the US -- said: "We are making Bermuda's position clear to members of key defence committees.

"It's a long letter and it sets out Bermuda's position -- our feeling is that there are certainly serious environmental issues.'' Among the most serious pollution is oil and other leakages in Bassett's Cave, beneath the old Naval Annex in Southampton, now known as Morgan's Point and earmarked for a massive tourist development.

Oil pollution from storage tanks is also present on the old St. David's air station and tons of asbestos stripped from US buildings is in storage awaiting disposal.

Dr. Gibbons said: "Our case is the US did not adhere to their own international standards when they were operating their base in Bermuda.'' He pointed out that the US bases were solely for the defence of the eastern seaboard of America -- and that Bermuda was unique in that it was too small to provide landfill or disposal sites for tons of potentially hazardous waste.

Dr. Gibbons added that Bermuda also had a delicate natural system, including the most northerly coral reefs in the world.

And he said both Britain and Canada had already held their hands up and agreed to clean up pollution at their former bases, HMS Malabar and Daniel's Head, respectively.

Dr. Gibbons said: "We are also pleased because we understand the Canadians have had some success with the Senate and Congressional committees with respect to their negotiations with the US.

"That could be a very good sign for Bermuda as we take our case forward.'' The US pulled out of its bases in 1995 in the wake of the collapse of the old Soviet Union.

Its forces had used around 10 percent of the Island rent-free since the bases were set up as part of the lend-lease deal with Britain during the Second World War.