US Base issue.

The Hon. Sir John Swan said two senior Congressmen, Rep. Charles Rangel and Rep. Charlie Rose, had sent him a letter of invitation.

And meetings had been pencilled in between himself and key Congressmen.

But plans had been put on hold until after the General Election, said Sir John.

"I must not assume what the voters' decision will be,'' he added.

The announcement was immediately greeted with suspicion by the Progressive Labour Party.

In a statement, the party said: "If Sir John was not playing politics, how is it he has not yet informed the Opposition leader Mr. L. Frederick Wade of this development as it is extremely likely that our Mr. Wade may be required to make the trip.'' The PLP said Congressmen Rangel and Rose were "personal friends'' of Sir John and may have an interest in his re-election.

Sir John said he was unaware of the latest developments in Washington over the Base.

Bermuda would have to get "up to speed'' after the election.

The Royal Gazette has obtained a copy of the letter to Sir John. It reads: "We are becoming concerned about developments pertaining to the future of the United States civilian and military personnel stationed at the United States Naval Air Station on Bermuda.

"Clearly, your long term efforts have managed to ensure Bermuda's position to date.

"However, recent events have served to somewhat confuse the situation and we do not want all of your work to be negated.

"We strongly urge that you now schedule a visit to Washington. We believe you will be able to successfully utilise your considerable contacts here to promote your case and protect Bermuda's interests.

"The future of the base is, as you know, being currently considered in the context of the Department of Defense Authorization bill in the House of Representatives.

"This will soon be considered by a House/Senate Conference Committeee.

Subject to your confirmation, we will immediately set up meetings with the following key members of Congress, all of whom you know and all of whom we believe will be willing to see you.'' The congressmen include Rep. Ron Dellums, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; Sen. Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Sen. Dennis DeConcini, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee; and Rep.

Bob Torricelli, chairman of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The letter ends: "This is a key moment in the legislative process and we thus urge your immediate consideration of this request.'' The future of the Base has become a key issue in the election with Government and Opposition flying to America to lobby Congressmen.

Mr. Wade has claimed a share of the credit with Sir John for killing a proposal moving through Congress which would have cut off funding for the Base 90 days after it passed.

He said Mr. Dellums had promised him that the proposal -- the Bermuda Amendment -- would not go through the final bill in Senate.

Yesterday Mr. Wade said the PLP had been told by Rep. Dellums the House/Senate conference would take place three to six weeks after the bill passed in the House.

"If the Premier has received a notice from his friends in Washington it simply means that the conference is about to commence and Bermuda needs to make sure that Congressman Ronald Dellums carries out his promise to us that he would sort out the Bermuda Amendment at this stage.

"Unless the Premier has other news, we must make sure that he is not, for election purposes, dramatising a situation that is already in hand and is being addressed by Congressmen Ronald Dellums, Albert Wynn and others.

"Only last week Wednesday a PLP delegation met with Barbara Stevenson, Country representative from the State Department for United Kingdom and Bermuda.

"We were assured again that at the conference stage of the Bermuda Amendment the problem of closure within 90 days would be dealt with.''