determination to work together on the US military withdrawal from the Island.

Mr. Mark Lennox-Boyd, the Foreign Office junior minister responsible for Bermuda, emerged from a one-hour meeting with Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan saying his Government was ready to back Bermuda in negotiations with the Americans.

"We fully recognise that Sir John and his Government must be in the forefront of negotiations,'' Mr. Lennox-Boyd told The Royal Gazette at the Cabinet Office.

He indicated his Government would play a role in talks as well because "in the end it involves an agreement between the US and British Governments''.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd, who was visiting the Island for the first time, said there was no question about his Government granting Bermuda authorisation to negotiate the Bases wind-down.

"There isn't any problem about it,'' he said. "It's a matter of recognising the Bermuda Government being in the front line.'' In his visits with US and NATO military chiefs in Washington and Norfolk this week, Sir John made it clear Bermuda should have the power to negotiate its own future on the Base issue. The US Navy also insisted that Bermuda have authorisation from the UK befoe talks began.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd did not stand in the way of that determination.

"What (the Premier) wants will happen,'' he said.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd also told Sir John his Government was prepared to provide Bermuda with technical and legal assistance in negotiations with the Americans.

Later, Sir John said he was pleased with the meeting. "The United Kingdom played a major role in the establishment of these bases which helped produce the expansion in our economy,'' he said.

"I hope the UK will play a role in this upcoming challenge and that they'll provide legal and technical assistance that will help us minimise the impact of the base closures.'' Mr. Lennox-Boyd later met with Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade, who used the opportunity to express concerns about Bermuda's role in the negotiations.

Mr. Wade said the Minister did not answer his question on whether the British Government was prepared to help financially in the event Bermuda was severely damaged by the Base closures.

Rather, he said Mr. Lennox-Boyd expressed confidence the Americans would do everything possible to bring the Base issue to an amicable and good conclusion for the Island.

Mr. Wade once again attacked Sir John's Base diplomacy which has involved numerous overseas meetings with US and UK leaders.

"It is clear there is no Bermuda plan on the Base closures,'' he said.

"There is not even the beginning of a plan.

"We are no further forward in this than we were six months or a year ago.

We've known and been saying for a long time the Bases will go. We're now behind the eight ball on this.

"March (when the US Department of Defence must submit to Congress its Base closure report) is not very far off. We have little time to influence that report. And we need to know our position in order to have influence.'' Mr. Lennox-Boyd leaves the Island this afternoon, about 24 hours after his arrival. The minister flew to Bermuda after meeting with the new Canadian Government in Ottawa.

Last night, he dined with Governor Lord Waddington at Government House.

The Hon. Sir John Swan and Mr. Mark Lennox-Boyd.