Mr. Rupert Allason said he was to meet last night with British Defence Minister Mr. Malcolm Rifkind and argue that the Royal Navy base at Dockyard should remain open.

Mr. Rifkind is to visit Bermuda in May to attend a conference. He would likely visit Malabar, scheduled for closure next year, Mr. Allason said.

"Nothing is a fait accompli,'' said the Conservative MP, who has a home in Bermuda and chairs the Anglo-Bermuda Parliamentary Group at Westminster.

"I would like to persuade Mr. Rifkind that it is in Britain's interests to maintain HMS Malabar.

"I think retaining Malabar would be symbolic of Britain's long-term defence interests in the Western Hemisphere.'' Mr. Allason said it was a mistake for Britain to assume that the end of the Cold War meant that another marine threat in the Atlantic would not arise.

He also questioned whether closing the British naval base would mean higher costs for air transport that would negate any savings.

While he agreed the British defence ministry had to find major cost savings, "simply moving expenses from one account to another doesn't make sense,'' he said.

In any case, "my view is that the costs involved are irrelevant. The accountants have taken too much of a grip on the Ministry of Defence.

"It is in Britain's long-term interests to retain a facility in Bermuda because of its strategic location.'' It was "extraordinary'' to think that peace was breaking out.

"I think you always have to anticipate the unexpected.'' While he understood that Royal Navy ships would still be able to stop and refuel in Bermuda after a Malabar closure, "I wouldn't particularly want them to have to compete with cruise liners''.

A spokesman for Mr. Rifkind said no appointment with Mr. Allason was set for yesterday.

But Mr. Allason said later the 10 p.m. meeting was arranged through the minister's personal secretary.

"They wouldn't have told you about it anyway,'' he said.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan has said the Malabar closure was symbolic of Bermuda's weakening ties with Britain.

He cited the Royal Navy base closure as a reason for re-examining the contentious issue of Independence.

"That is his judgement,'' Mr. Allason said. "I would never presume to suggest to Bermudians what is or is not appropriate for them.'' But many in the UK government were "bemused'' by the Independence issue, he said.

"A lot of people have said to me: `Why is there an Independence referendum? "What has suddenly happened in Bermuda? I thought Bermuda was happy and contented'.'' Mr. Rupert Allason.