former US bases is really a question of good or bad behaviour. A guest who was always welcome in our home departed and left their filth behind. Are they going to be a good friend and clean up after themselves or are they going to force their hosts to hire someone to make their mess good? Given today's sentiments about a clean environment we would think that there should be no question.

It is really that simple. The United States enjoyed the use of bases in Bermuda for over 50 years. Those bases were beneficial to the United States and at one time they were thought to be absolutely necessary to the defence of the United States. Base lands were supplied to the United States under wartime conditions almost without complaint from Bermuda even given the lack of consultation. Unlike some other countries, there was never a situation in Bermuda where Bermudians made it clear that they would rather not have the bases here even when it became very clear that there were nuclear weapons at Kindley Field.

They were given back to Bermuda not because Bermuda asked for them back but because the US Congress decided in its wisdom that the bases in Bermuda were wasteful. With three or four notable exceptions including the airport runway, there was not a great deal at the bases that was immediately beneficial to Bermuda except the ultimate use of the land.

Then it was discovered that there was serious waste dumping on both bases and Bermuda was going to be stuck with the clean-up. Is that fair? Hardly when you consider the magnitude of the United States compared to tiny Bermuda and its limited resources. One might expect that as a good friend the United States would simply accept responsibility for cleaning up after itself. Britain cleaned up at Dockyard and so did Canada at Daniel's Head but Bermuda is left begging the United States to do its duty.

There is no doubt that Bermuda has good friends in Washington who are approachable by the Premier and the Minister of Finance but we would rather that Bermuda did not have to go back and forth to Washington as if asking for a favour. However, the situation does seem to be improving from the flat NO Washington once gave us.

As is her way, Premier Pamela Gordon has persisted and there are signs that she is being listened to and that Washington is becoming more amenable and more understanding. The Premier was clearly encouraged after her quick visit with the Finance Minister to Washington last week.

There is little Bermuda can do but talk. We can only hope that good conscience and good behaviour will pevail and the United States will carry out its duty.