Washington, Sept. 4.
REETED with the greatest possible satisfaction in London and firmly approved by all but the isolationist group among Con-pressmen here, the accord between the United States and Britain, whereby 50 over-age United States destroyers will be transferred to Britain in return for air and naval base facilities among British possessions in the western hemisphere, w is declared by President Roosevelt. yest day {0 be an epochal act, In revealing that the accord had been reached on september 2, the State Department today lid Britain Prime Minister, Mr.
winston Churel I, had pledged that Britain would never surrender or scuttle her fleet, The statement led to immediate speculation among reporters and commentators here ax to whether the bases might one day be used by British warships, but President Roose vell refused to iseuss this question, saying he only assumed the British Nect would Ko where was needed for defence.
By the accord reached between Bri in and the United States, the President declared in his historical advice to Congress, the United States would acquire naval bases in Newfoundianc and the islands of Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Luci Trinidad and Antigua, and in British Guiana.
Details of the agreement were made public yesterday as President Roose-Welt was speeding towards Washington in the. Presidential Special ta following his visit to Great Smoky Mountains, where he dedicated the National Park "to the free people of Americ Tin his message to Congress, President Roosevelt declared that the accord "is not inconsistent in any sense with our status at peace: stil less ita threat against any nation Is an epochal, far-reaching act in paration for continental. defence, face of grave danger. Preparat) defence Is an inalienable prerogative of a sovereign State, and under present circumstances this exercise of sovereign right is essential for the maintenance of oitr peace and safely.
Fundamental Considerations whis ig the most Important action Ju the reinforcement of our national defence that has been taken since the Louisiana purchase (under which the United States required from Napoleon the embryo of the French Empire west of the Mississippi). Then, as ow, considerations of safety against ack from overseas are fundamental.
Tem ore eae the British Fleet would go wherever was needed for defence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.