1956_Bahamas_LRPG_Agreeemnt_Additional_Sites_at_Ascension_Island.pdf

TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 3603

BAHAMAS LONG RANGE PROVING GROUND

Establishment of Additional Sites in Ascension Island

Agreement Between the

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

a,nd the UNITED KINGDOM OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Signed at Washington June 25, 1956

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Literal print] u·NITED KINGDOM Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground: Establishment of

Additional Sites in· Ascension Island

Agreement signed at Washingtpn June 25, 1956;

Entered into force June 25, 1956.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT

OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND

NORTHERN IRELAND CONCERNING THE EXTENSION

OF THE BAHAMAS LONG RANGE PROVING GROUND

BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL SITES IN

ASCENSION ISLAND

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and North ern Ireland, Taking into account the Agreement signed at Washington on July 21, 1950, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the concurrence of the Gov ernment of the Bahama Islands, concerning the Long Range Proving Ground for guided missiles to be known as The Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground, consisting of a Main Base and Launching Area in the vicinity of Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States of America, and of a Flight Testing Range, extend ing to the southeast from the Launching Area through the Bahama Islands and the waters adjacent thereto, and agreements for the extension of the said Proving Ground;

Reaffirming their decision that the said Proving Ground should be used by the Government of the United States of America and the Government_ of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Jrelanil for testing the flight of guided missiles and associated equipment and for training with such missiles and equipment;

Desiring that the limits of the said Proving Ground should be further extended to include the territory of Ascension Island and the waters adjacent thereto; and that the pr0visions set forth below for that purpose should be fulfilled m a spirit of good

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neighborliness between the Governments concerned, and that details of their practical application should be arranged by friendly cooperation, Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

For the purposes of this Agreement:

(1) "Range Area" means that part of the Long Range Proving Ground which lies within the territory of Ascension Island, in cluding the territorial waters thereof.

(2) "United States authorities" means the authority or author ities from time to time authorized or designated, by the Govern ment of the United States of America, for the purpose of exer cising the powers in relation to which the expression is used.

(3) "United States Forces" means the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and "member of the United States Forces" means a member of those forces who is entitled to wear the uniform thereof.

(4) "National of the United States" means a citizen of the United States or a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes allegiance to the United States.

(5) "British national" means any British subject ,or Common wealth citizen or any British protected person, but·shall not include a person who is 'both a British national and , a member of the United States Forces.

(6) "Local alien" means a person, not being a British national, a member of the United States Forces or a national of the United States, who is ordinarily residen~ in Ascension Island.

(7) "Sites" means the Sites provided under Article IV of this Agreement so long as they are so provided.

ARTICLE II

General Description of Rights

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Government of the United States of America shall have the right in the Range Area:

(a) to launch, fly and lan<l guided missiles;

(b) to establish, maintain and use an instrumentation and a communications system including radar, radio, land lines and

TIAS 3603

submarine cables for operational purposes in connection with the Long Range Proving Ground;

(c) to operate such vessels and aircraft as may be necessary for purposes connected directly with the operation of the Long Range Proving Ground.

(2) No wireless station, submarine cable, land line or other installation shall be established by the United States authorities within the Range Area except at such place or places as may be agreed between the Contracting Governments, provided that such agreement shall not be required in respect of any wireless station, submarine cable, land line or other installation to be established within a Site.

(3) No submarine cable, wireless station, land line or other installation shall be established or used by the United States authorities within the Range Area otherwise than for the purpose of operating the Long Range Proving Ground. Any submarine cable, wireless station, land line or other installation established in connection with the Long Range Proving Ground shall be sited and operated in such a way that it will not cause interference with established civil communications.

(4) When submarine cables established in accordance with para graph (1) of this Article are no longer required for the purpose of this Agreement,' their disposal or further use shall be subject to consultation between the Contracting Governments and, in the absence of agreement, they shall be removed by and at the expense of the Government of the United States pf America.

(5) The use of radio frequencies, powers and band widths, for radio services (including radar), under any of the provisions of this Agreement, shall be subject to the prior concurrence of the senior British representative posted to the Long Range Proving Ground.

(6) The Contracting Governments shall, in consulta.tion with the Government of Saint Helena, take all reasonable precautions against possible danger and damage resulting from operations under this Agreement in the Range Area.

(7) The rights granted to the Government of the United States of America by this Article shall not be exercised unreasonably or so as to interfere with or to prejudice the safety of navigation, aviation or communication within the Long Range Proving Ground and the rights so granted shall be exercised in the spirit of the last paragraph of the Prearn ble.

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ARTICLE III

Rights of Way

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall, after consultation with the Government of Saint Helena, provide to the Government of the United States of America such rights of way as may be agreed to be necessary for the operation of the Long Range Proving Ground. The cost of acquisition of any right of way over private property shall be borne by the Contracting Governments in such proportions as are agreed between them.

AnTICLE IV

Proiision of Sites

(1) The Government of the United Kingdom shall, after consul tation with the Government of Saint Helena, provide so long as this Agreement remains in force such Sites for the purpose of the operation of the Long Range Proving Ground as may be agreed between the Contracting Governments to be necessary for that purpose. The cost of acquisition of private property or of rights iLffecting private property, to enable any Site to be provided, shall

~e borne by the Contracting. Governments in such proportions as Ire agreed between them. When it is agreed between the Con tracting Governments that imy Site provided under this Article is no longer necessary for the purpose of the operation of the Long Range Proving Ground, the Government· of the United Kingdom shall be entitled to cease to provide the Site for that purpose.

(2) Access to the Sites shall not be permitted to persons not officially connected with the Long Range Proving Ground except with the consent of the senior British representative posted to the Long Range Proving Ground and the senior member of the United States Armed Forces detailed to the said Proving Ground.

ARTICLE V

Jurisdiction

(1) The Government of the United States of America shall have the right to exercise the following jurisdiction over offenses com mitted in Ascension Island:

(a) Where the accused is a member of the United States Forces,

(i) if a state of war exists, exclusive jurisdiction over all offenses wherever committed;

(ii) if a state of war does not exist, exclusive jurisdiction over security offenses wherever committed and United States interest offenses committed inside the Sites; concurrent juris diction over all other offenses wherever committed.

(b) Where the accused is a British national or a local alien and a civil court of the United States is sitting in Ascension Island,

(i) if a state of war exists, exclusive jurisdiction, and

(ii) if a state of war does not exist, concurrent jurisdiction, over security offenses committed inside the Sites.

(c) Where the accused is not a member of the United States Forces, a British national or a local alien, but is a person sub ject to the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice,

(i) if a state of war exists, exclusive jurisdiction over security offenses committed inside the Sites and United States in terest offenses committed inside the Sites; concurrent juris diction over all other offenses wherever committed;

(ii) if a state of war does not exist and there is no civil court of the United States sitting in Ascension Island, exclusive jurisdiction over security offenses which are not punishable under the law of Ascension Island; concurrent jurisdiction over all other offenses wherever committed;

(iii) if a state of war does not exist and a civil court of the United States is sitting in Ascension Island, exclusive juris diction over security offenses committerl inside the Sites;

concurrent jurisdiction over all other · offenses wherever, committed.

(d) Where the accused is not a member of the United States Forces, a British national or a local alien, and is not a person subject to the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice, and a civil court of the United States is sitting in Ascension Island, exclusive jurisdiction over security offenses committed inside the Sites; concurrent jurisdiction over all other offenses committed inside the Sites and, if a state of war exists, over security offenses committed outside the Sites.

(2) Wherever, under paragraph (1) of this Article, the Govern ment of the United States of America has the right to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over security offenses committed inside the Sites, such right shall extend to security offenses committed out side the Sites which are' not punishable under the law of Ascension Island.

(3) In every case in which under this Article the Government of the United States of America has the right to exercise jurisdiction and the accused is a British national, a local alien or, being neither a British national nor a local alien, is not a person subject to the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice, such jurisdiction shall be exercisable only by a civil court of the United States sitting in Ascension Island.

(4) In every case in which under this Article the Government of the United States of America has the right to exercise exclusive jurisdiction, the following provisions shall have effect:

(a) The United States authorities shall inform the Govern ment of Saint Helena as soon as is practicable wheth1,r or not they elect to exercise such jurisdiction oYer any alleged offenses which may be brought to their attention by the competent authorities of Ascension Island or in any other case in which the

. United States authorities are requested by the competent authorities of Ascension Island to furnish such information.

(b) If the United States authorities elect to exercise such juris diction, the accused shall be brought to trial accordingly, and the courts of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island shall not exercise jurisdiction except in aid of a court or authority of the United States, as required or permitted by the la,v of Saint Helena or the law of Ascension Island, as the case mn,y be.

(c) If the United States authorities elect not to exercise such jurisdiction, and if it shall be agreed between the Government of Saint Helena and the United States authorities that the alleged offender shall be brought to trial, nothing in this Article shall affect the exercise of jurisdiction by the courts of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island in the case.

(5) In every case in which under this Article the Government of the United States of America has the right to exercise concurrent jurisdiction, the following provisions shall have effect:

(a) The ease shall be tried by such court as may be arranged between the Government of Saint Helena and the United States authorities.

(b) Where the offense is within the jurisdiction of a civil court of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island and of a civil court of the United States, trial by one shall exclude trial by the other.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Ar ticle, when a state of war exists in which the Government of the United Kingdom is, and the Government of the United States of America is not, engaged, then in any case in which the Govern ment of the United States of America would, but for this para graph, have exclusive jurisdiction, that jurisdiction shall be con current in respect of any of the following offenses against n,ny part

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Her Majesty's dominions committed outside the Sites or, if not nishable by the Government of the United States of America in

Ascension Island, inside the Sites:

(a) treason;

(b) any offense of the nature of sabotage or espionage or against any law relating to official secrets;

(c) any other offense relating to operations in Ascension Island of the Government of any part of Her Majesty's dominions, or to the safety of Her Majesty's naval, military or air bases or establishments or any part ther,eof or of any equipment or other property of any such Government in Ascension Island.

(7) Nothing in this Article shall give the Government of the United States of America the right to exercise jurisdiction over a member of a United Kingdom, Colonial or British Common wealth armed force, except that, if a civil court of the United States is sitting in Ascension Island and a state of war does not exist or a state of war exists in which the Government of the United States of America is, and the Government of the United Kingdom is not, engaged, the Government of the United States of America shall have the right, where the accused is a member ny such force, to exercise concurrent jurisdiction over security nses committed inside the Sites.

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(8) Nothing in this Article shall affect the jurisdiction of a civil court of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island except ~s expressly provided in this Article. ·

(9) In this Article the following expressions shall have the meaning hereby assigned to them:

(a) "Security offense" means any of the following offenses against the Government of the United States of America and punishable under the law of the United States of America:

(i) treason;

(ii) any offense of the nature of sabotage or espionage or against any law relating to official secrets;

(iii) any other offense relating to operations in Ascension Island of the Government of the United States of America under this Agreement, or to the safety of any equipment or other property of the Government of the United States of America in Ascension Island under this Agreement.

(b) "State of war" means a state of actual hostilities in which 8ither the Government of the United States of America or the w,overnment of the United Kingdom is engaged and which has not been formally terminated, as by surrender.

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(c) "United States interest offense" means an offense which (excluding the general interest of the Government of Saint Helena in the maintenance of law and order in Ascension Island) is solely against the interests of the Government of the United States of America or against any person (not being a British national or local alien) or property (not being prop erty of a B;ritish national or local alien) present in Ascension Island by reason only of service or employment in connection with the construction, maintenance, operation or defense of the Long Range Proving Ground.

ARTICLE VI

Security Legislation

The Government of Saint Helena will take such steps as may from time to time be agreed to be necessary with a view to the enactment of legislation to ensure the adequate security and pro tection of the Sites and United States equipment and other prop erty and the operations of the United States under this Agree ment, and the punishment of persons who may contravene any laws or regulations made for that purpose. The Government of Saint Helena will also from time to time consult with the United States authorities in order that the laws and regulations of the United States of America and of Ascension Island in rela tion to such matters may, so far as circumstanqes permit, be similar in character.

ARTICLE VII

Arrest and Service of Process

(1) No arrest of a person who is a member of the United States Forces or who is a national of the United States subject to the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice shall be made and no process, civil or criminal, shall be served on any such person within the Sites except with the perlnission of the Co=anding Oflicer in charge of the United States Forces in such Sites; but should the Commanding Officer refuse to grant such perlnission he shall ( except where, under Article V, jurisdiction is to be exer cised by the United States or is not exercisable by the courts of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island) forthwith take the necessary steps to arrest the person charged and surrender him to the appro priate authority of Ascension Island or to serve such process, as the case may be, and to provide for the attendance of the server of such process before the appropriate court of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island or procure such server to make the necessary affidavit or declaration to prove such service.

an cases where the courts of the United States have juris .on under Article V, the Government of Saint Helena will on request give reciprocal facilities as regards the service of process and the arrest and surrender of persons charged.

(3) In this Article the expression "process" includes any process by way of summons, subpoena, warrant, writ or other judicial document for securing the attendance of a witness or a party, or for the production of any documents or exhibits, required in any proceedings, civil or criminal.

ARTICLE VIII

Right of Audience

(1) In cases in which a member of the United States Forces is a party to civil or criminal proceedings in any court of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island by reason of some alleged act or omission arising out of or in the course of his official duty, United States counsel (authorized to practice before the courts of the United States) shall have the right of audience, provided that such counsel is in the service of the Government of the United States of America and appointed for that purpose either generally cially by the appropriate authority. · cases in which a British national or a local alien is a party uninal proceedings in a court of the United States sitting in Ascension Island, counsel authorized to practice before the courts of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island shall have the right of audience.

ARTICLE IX

Surrender of Persons Charged

Where a person charged with an offense which falls to be dealt with by the courts of Saint Helena or of Ascension Island is in a Site, or a person charged with an offense which falls under Article V to be dealt with by courts of the United States is in Ascension Island but outside a Site, such person shall be surrendered to the Government of Saint Helena or to the United States authorities, as the case may be, in accordance with special arrangements made between that Government and those authorities.

ARTICLE X

Public Sermces

The Government of the United States of America shall have A,ight to employ and use all utilities, services and facilities, Wors, roads, highways, bridges, viaducts, canals and similar

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channels of transportation in Ascension Island and belonging to or controlled or regulated by or on behalf of the Government of Saint Helena or the Government of the United Kingdom on such conditions as shall be agreed between the Contracting Governments.

ARTICLE XI

Shipping and Aviation

(1) The Government of the United States of America may place or establish in the Sites and the territorial waters adjacent there to, or in the vicinity there9f, lights and other aids to navigation of vessels and aircraft necessary for the operations of the Long Range Proving Ground. Such lights and other aids shall con form to the system in use in Ascension Island. The position, characteristics and any alterations thereof shall be determined in consultation with the appropriate authority in Saint Helena or Ascension Island and the senior British representative posted to the Long Range Proving Ground.

(2) United States public vessels operated by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or the Coast and Geodetic Survey bound to or departing from a Site shall not be subject to compulsory pilotage in Ascension Island. If a pilot is taken, pilotage shall be paid for at appropria~e rates. Such United States public ves sels shall have such exemption from light and harbor dues in Ascension Island as shall be agreed between: the Contracting Governments. · ·

(3) Commercial aircraft shall not be ,authorized to operate from any of the Sites (save in case of emergency or for strictly mili tary purposes under supervision of the Army, Navy or Air Force Departments) except in accordance with the provision of any agreement for the time being in force between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom.

ARTICLE XII

Immigration

(1) The immigration laws of Ascension Island shall not operate or apply so as to prevent admission into Ascension Island, for the purposes of this Agreement, of any member of the United States Forces posted to a Site or any person (not being a national of a Power at war with Her Majesty The Queen) employed by, or under a contract with, either the Government of the United States of America or a contractor of that Government, in connec tion with the establishment, maintenance or use of the Long

~ange Proving Ground, or his wife or minor children; but suit '3,ble arrangements shall be made by the United States to enable such persons to be readily identified and their status to be established.

(2) If the status of any person within Ascension Island and admitted thereto under the foregoing paragraph shall be altered so that he would no longer be entitled to such· admission, the United States authorities shall notify the Government of Saint Helena and shall, if such person be required to leave Ascension Island by that Government, be responsible for providing him with a passage from Ascension"Island within a reasonable time, and shall in the meantime prevent his becoming a public responsi bility of Saint Helena.

AR'l.'ICLE XIII

Motor Vehicle Taxes

Ko tax or fee shall be payable in respect of registration or licensing for use in Ascension Island of motor vehicles belonging Lo the Government of the United States of America and used for purposes connected directly with the establishment, maintenance or use of the Long Range Proving Ground.

AR!ICLE XIV

Customs Duties and Other Taxes on Goods

(1) No import, excise, consumption or other tax, ·duty or impost shall be charged on:

(a) material, equipment, supplies or goods for use in the establishment, maintenance or use of the Long Range Proving Ground consigned to, or destined for, the United States authorities or a contractor;

(b) goods for use or consumption aboard United States public vessels or aircraft of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Coast and Geodetic Survey;

(c) goods consigned to the United States authorities or to a contractor of the United. States for the use of institutions under the control of the United States authorities or United States contractors known as Post Exchanges, Navy Exchanges, Commissary Stores, Service Clubs, Contractors' Messes and Recreational Facilities, or for sale thereat to members of the United States Forces, civilian employees of the United States or contractors' employees, being nationals of the United States and employed in Gonnection with the Long Range Proving

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Ground, or members of their families resident with them and not engaged in any business or occupation in Ascension Island;

(d) the personal belongings or household effects, provided that such belongings or effects accompany the owner or are imported either (i) within a period beginning 60 days before and ending 120 days after the owner's arrival or (ii) within a period of 6 months immediately following his arrival, of persons referred to in sub-paragraph (c) of this Article and of contractors and their employees being nationals of the United States employed in the establishment, maintenance or use of the Long Range Proving Ground and present in Ascension Island by reason only of such employment.

(e) goods for consumption and goods (other than personal belongings and household effects) acquired after first arrival, including gifts, consigned to members of the United States Forces or civilian employees of the United States being nationals of the United States and employed in connection with the Long Range Proving Ground or members of their families resident with them and not engaged in any business or occupation in Ascension Island provided that such goods are:

(i) of United States origin if the Government of Ascension Island so require, and

(ii) imported for the 'personal use of the recipient.

(2) No export tax shall be charged on the material, equipment, supplies or goods mentioned in paragraph :(1) in the event of reshipment from Ascension Island. ·

(3) This Article shall apply notwithstanding that the material, equipment, supplies or goods pass through other parts of Ascension Island en route to or from a Site.

(4) The United States authorities shall do all in their power to prevent any abuse of customs privileges and shall take adminis trative measures, which shall be shown and explained to the appropriate local authorities, to prevent the disposal, whether by resale or otherwise, of goods which are used or sold under para graph (1) (c), or imported under paragraph (1) (d) or (e), of this Article, to persons not entitled to buy goods at the institutions referred to in the said paragraph (1) (c) or not entitled to free importation under the said paragraph (1) (cl) or (e). There shall be cooperation between the United States authorities and the Government of Saint Helena to this end, both in prevention and in investigation of cases of abuse.

ARTICLE XV

Taxation

(1) No member of the United States Forces or national of the United States, serving or employed in Ascension Island in con nection with the establishment, maintenance or use of the Long Range Proving Ground, and residing in Ascension Island by reason only of such employment, or his wife or minor children, shall be liable to pay income tax in Ascension Island except in respect of income derived from Ascension Island,

(2) No such person shall be liabl\l to pay in Ascension Island any poll tax or similar tax on his person, or any tax on ownership or use of property which is within a Site, or situated outside Ascension Island.

(3) No person ordinarily resident in the United States shall be liable to pay income tax in Ascension Island in respect of any profits derived under a contract made in the United s'tates with the Government of the United States of America in connection with the establishment, maintenance or use of the Long Range Proving Ground, or any tax in the nature of a license in respect of any service or work for the Government of the United States of

Aierica in connection with the establishment, maintenance or

- of the Long Range Proving Ground.

ARTICLE XVI

Postal Facilities

The Government of the United States of America shall have the right to establish United States Military Post Offices in the Sites for the exclusive use of the United States Forces, and civilian personnel (including contractors and their employees) who are nationals of the United States and employed in connection with the establishment, maintenance or use of the Long Range Proving Ground and the families of such persons for postal services between the United States Military Post Offices so established and other United States Post Offices.

AR'l'ICLE XVII

Health Measures in the Vicinity of the Sites

The Government of the United States of America shall have the right, in collaboration with the Government of Saint Helena, and, where necessary, with any' local authority concerned, to

Arcise, without other consideration than adequate and effective 9ipensation to be paid by the Government of the United States of

America to private owners or occupiers, if any, such powers as such Government and local authority may possess of entering upon any property in the vicinity of the Sites for the purpose of inspec tion, and of taking any necessary measures to improve sanitation and protect health.

ARTICLE XVIII

Removal of Property

(1) The title to any property placed on the Sites (including property affixed to the realty) and provided by the Government of the United States of America for the purposes of this Agreement shall remain in the Government of the United States of America.

(2) At any time before the termination of this Agreement or within a reasonable time thereafter, such property may, at the discretion of the Government of the United States of America, be

(a) relocated within the Sites, or

(b) removed therefrom, or

(c) disposed of while on a Site on the condition (unless other wise agreed between the Government of Saint Helena and the United States authorities) that it shall forthwith be removed therefrom.

(3) Any ground from which such property is so removed shall, if the Government of Saint Helena so require, be restored as far as possible to its present condition by the Gove,rrunent of the United States of America.

(4) The Government of the United States of America will not, in Ascension Island, dispose of any such property

(a) without the consent of the Government of Saint Helena, or

(b) without offering the property for sale to that Government, if such offer is consistent with laws of the United States of America then in effect, or

(c) before the expiration of such period, not being less than 120 days after the date of such offer, as may be reasonable in the circumstances.

(5) Such property may be exported by the United States author ities free from any license, export tax, duty or impost.

(6) Any such property not removed or disposed of as aforesaid within a reasonable time after tl;le termination of this Agreement, shall become the property of the Government of Saint Helena.

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ARTICLE XIX

Rights to be Restricted to the Purposes of the Agreement

Neither the Government of the United States of America nor the United States authorities shall exercise any rights granted by this Agreement, or permit the exercise thereof, except for the purposes specified in this Agreement.

ARTICLE XX

Rights Not to be Assigned

Neither the Government of tne United States of America nor the United States authorities shall assign or part with any of the rights granted by this Agreement.

ARTICLE XXI

Liaison

The senior British representative posted to the Long Range Proving Ground and the senior member of the United States

· Armed Forces detailed to the said Proving Ground shall jointly decide the details of the execution of this Agreement in its applica-am to specific situations, in the best interests of all concerned .

.. e said senior British representative shall be responsible for undertaking negotiations with the Government of Saint Helena in this connection.

ARTICLE XXII

Claims for Compensation

(1) The Government of the United States of America undertakes to pay adequate and effective compensation, which shall not be less than the sum payable under the law of Ascension Island, and to indemnify the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Saint Helena and all other authorities, corporations and persons in respect of valid claims arising out of:

(a) the death or injury of any person, except persons employed by the Government of the United Kingdom in connection with the Long Range Proving Ground, resulting from the establish ment, maintenance or use by the Government of the United States of America of the extension of the Long Range Proving Ground effected by this Agreement;

(b) damage to property resulting from any action of the Gov-· ernment of the United States of America in connection with

~the establishment, maintenance or use of the extension of the Long Range Proving Ground effectPd by this Agreement;

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(c) the acquisition of private property or of rights affecting private property (other than such property or rights acquired under Article III · or Article IV) to enable any rights of the Government of the United States of America under this Agree ment to be exercised.

(2) Compensation payable under sub-paragraph (1) (c) of this Article shall be assessed in accordance with the law of Ascension IslaD.d.

(3) For the purpose of this Article th~ law of Ascension Island shall be the law in force at the time of the signature of this Agree ment, provided that any subsequent alteration of the said law shall have effect if the Contracting Governments so agree.

ARTICLE XXIII

Freedom from Rents and Charges

Except as provided in Articles XVII and XXII the Sites shall be provided, and the rights of the Government of the United States of America under this Agreement shall be made available, free from all rent and charges to the Government of the United States of America.

ARTICLE XXIV

Modification of the Agreem_ent

Modification of this Agreement shall be·considered by the Con tracting Governments in the light of arty modification of the Agreement between the Governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom relating to the Bases leased to the United States of America dated March 27, 1941, which may be made under Article XXVIII of that Agreement.

ARTICLE XXV

Implementation of the Agreement

(1) The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Saint Helena respectively will do all in their power to assist each other in giving full effect to the provisions of this Agreement according to its tenor and will take all appropriate steps to that end.

(2) During the period for which this Agreement remains in force, no laws of Ascension Island which would derogate from or prej udice any of the rights conferred on the Government of the United States of America by this Agreement shall be applicable within the Range Area, save with the concurrence of the Govern ment of the United States of America.

ARTICLE XXVI

Final Provisions This Agreement shall come into force on the date of signature and shall continue in force unlif July 20t 1~75{and thereafter until one year from the day on which either Contracting Govern ment shall give notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Agreement. ,, IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Agree ment.

DoNE at Washington, in duplicate, this twenty-fifth day of June, 1956.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA:

JOHN FOSTER DULLES

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND:

ROGER MAKINS

U. S. &OVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1951