work with Bermuda to prevent or at least slow down the withdrawal of the US military from the Island.

In a meeting with Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister recognised Bermuda's concern over the threat of the US Naval Air Station closure and the impact it would have on the Island.

He agreed it was important to make the United States understand the impact of closure and that working together with Bermuda was the best way to deal with the issue.

The 20-minute meting with Mr. Major was the high point of a busy day for the Premier during which he appealed to dozens of Parliamentarians, businessmen and Government officials for support on the Base issue.

Earlier at a luncheon in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office hosted by Mr.

Mark Lennox-Boyd, Under-Secretary of State responsible for Bermuda, the Premier put forward Bermuda's case.

The US could close the Base "just like that,'' he said with a snap of his fingers. Closure would create demands beyond the Island's immediate resources and skills.

Operational control of the airport, for example, could require up to 150 people, many needing special skills and training the Island did not currently have.

It was vital to get the United States to understand the possible consequences for Bermuda and the many international businesses located on the island.

He told the gathering which included British Airways chairman Sir Colin Marshall, Jardine Matheson chairman Mr. Henry Keswick and former Governor Viscount Dunrossil that Bermuda needed all the help it could get to prevent an abrupt closure.

At a House of Commons afternoon tea, Sir John repeated his summary of the Base issue and Bermuda's needs to the Anglo-Bermudian Parliamentary Association, a 90-strong organisation of Parliamentarians who support the Island.

The Premier said it was vital for Bermuda and its friends to "get ahead'' of any US decision on the Base and to "speak with one voice'' on what was at stake. Reacting after the fact would do no good.

Bermuda resident Mr. Rupert Allason MP, who hosted the tea, said Bermuda could count on the support of his organisation.

"It would be tragedy to turn our backs on our oldest allies and it will not happen,'' he said.

Sir John also took Bermuda's case to an informal get together in Westminster of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

At each gathering, British Parliamentarians expressed support for the Island and a willingness to do whatever possible on the base issue.

Premier Swan was so buoyed by the apparent support that he said: "I greatly believe we have the potential, we have the ability to stop the closure of the Base.'' There did not appear to be any military grounds on which to argue for the Base's continuation. Mr. Major in their meeting said Britain had no military interest in seeing it remain.

But Premier Swan said the Base still anchored valuable operations beyond the military, particularly in aviation and search and rescue.

"I think the role the Base has played beyond the military and its small size and the low cost of it in terms of the overall US budget leads me to suspect it's the cheapest deal the US has got,'' he said.

"We have to try to find a way to work with the Americans to keep it going.'' Although the Premier's intention in the talks was to focus exclusively on the Base, Mr. Lennox-Boyd in a meeting raised the issues of Bermuda's continuing retention of capitol punishment and its law against homosexual conduct.

In both instances, the British Government is at odds with Bermuda.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd's query on the anti-gay law followed receipt yesterday of an Amnesty International letter to the Prime Minister urging its repeal.

Sir John answered that both issues were considered domestic issues and outside Britain's constitutional responsibility. He said it was up to the Bermuda legislature to decide the issues.

There was little chance the issues would be addressed before the next election.

Foreign Office officials later said they were pleased with the meetings, if only to reacquaint themsleves with Sir John.

During his meetings, the Premier was more than once asked about Bermuda becoming independent. He said his party had pledged not to make independence an issue during an election and to subject any decision on it to a national referendum.

The Premier also was repeatedly asked about the date of the next election. But he did not divulge anything publicly other than to say he had to call it by February 9.

This morning the Premier will visit British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd to make his points again about the US Base issue.

IN ACCORD -- Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, right, talks with British Prime Minister John Major before their meeting at 10 Downing Street yesterday.