in the House of Assembly revealed.

Incorrect information stated in the House included: Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade's statement that the United States paid the United Kingdom for the Bermuda Bases with warships; Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP's claim that there must be a penalty clause that could be invoked if the US pulled out of the agreement before the 99-year lease had expired.

The notion that Britain received American destroyers as part of the deal for the Bermuda Bases has been repeated so often that it has become a part of Island folklore.

But a careful reading of the United States Bases Agreement and attached correspondence between British and American representatives shows that Bermuda and Newfoundland were not part of the package when the US promised to send 50 1,200-ton destroyers to the UK.

The warships were payment for other UK lands leased to the Americans in the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, Trinidad and British Guiana, a 1940 letter from UK representative the Marquess of Lothian to American diplomat Mr.

Cordell Hull shows.

The Bermuda and Newfoundland bases were granted to the US "freely and without consideration,'' the September 2, 1940 letter said.

The other Bases were granted "in exchange for naval and military equipment and material which the United States Government will transfer to His Majesty's Government,'' the letter said.

On September 2, 1940, Mr. Hull replied to the Marquess, agreeing to the arrangement and promising the "immediate transfer to His Majesty's Government (of) 50 United States Navy destroyers.'' Payment of rent by the Americans for use of the Base, which has been requested by the Progressive Labour Party, would have required a renegotiation of the original pact between the US and the UK.

In last Friday's House debate, Mr. Simmons said that there must be a penalty that could be invoked, since the US was pulling out of the 99-year lease early. On that point, Mr. Simmons should have deferred to his leader, Mr.

Wade, who correctly pointed out that the Americans held a free rein in leaving the Base.

Under the agreement: "The United States may at any time abandon any leased area or any part thereof, without thereby incurring any obligation, but shall give to the Government of the United Kingdom as long notice as possible and in any case not less than one year, of its intention so to do.'' The agreement also notes that when the Americans quit the Base, "the area abandoned shall revert to the lessor,'' meaning the UK.

There is some difference of opinion over whether Bermuda or the UK paid the St. David's Islanders who were displaced, and whether the Base lands would in fact revert directly to Bermuda.

But provided the Americans agree to return the land, the question appears to be largely academic.

Deputy Governor Mr. John Kelly said it would only be a formality for the UK to return the abandoned area to Bermuda.