Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan met with US President Bill Clinton yesterday for a brief chat aimed at establishing direct relations with his administration.

In a nine-minute get-together at the Oval Office Premier Swan said the Island would appreciate the President's consideration on issues that could damage its economic well being.

The President acknowledged the Premier's comments and then recalled a happy visit to the Island.

He said he and his wife "love Bermuda'' and that he hoped to return to it some day when his busy schedule allowed.

The brief meeting culminated the Premier's two-day visit to the US capital during which he talked with people who could have influence on issues affecting the Island.

Shortly before the Oval Office visit the Premier had a 30-minute talk at the Pentagon with General Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Powell warned that the US budgetary process was putting tremendous pressure on the White House and that its deficit cutting objectives meant closure of the US Naval Air Station could not be ruled out.

He also told the Premier there was no legitimate military reason to justify continuation of the Base.

General Powell, a friend of the Premier, was responding to his questions about the immediate and long-term prospects for the Bermuda Base.

In the morning, Sir John met with Mr. Vernon Jordon, who headed the Clinton administration's transition team and who is known to have the President's ear.

Mr. Jordon said Bermuda had established an excellent network of people in Washington keeping watch for any tax changes that could affect the Island's international business community -- particularly the perennial threat of an excise tax increase.

At the end of the day, Premier Swan said: "I have accomplished what I set out to do.'' The visit with the President, he said, was critical in establishing an identity for the Island.

It was also important to win the President's "tacit blessing'' for Bermuda to have talks with people in his administration -- an allowance given to Bermuda by the British Government prior to yesterday's meeting.

"The object of this visit was not to come away with anything tangible as much as to establish an identity in the White House and to open channels to the President's administration,'' Sir John said.

He said the meeting would at least enable the President to put "a face, a person to issues not just a void.

"We want to get the chemistry right now so we can proceed with talks as to what can happen to the US Base.

The Bermuda Government seems reconciled to the fact that the US Naval Air Station's future is limited.

Sir John said he would at the very least be aiming to avoid outright closure by negotiating a "restructuring'' that would soften the blow.

"We are trying to get a strategic wind-down as opposed to closure,'' he said.

He said he plans to meet with Mr. John Dalton, whom the President has nominated to be the new Secretary of the Navy.

"Bermuda remains at risk to closure but no final decisions have been made yet,'' Sir John said.

Yesterday's visit with the President amounted to something of a coup for Premier Swan.

The administration has been almost wholly preoccupied with getting its legislative programme in place against tremendous political pressure and Press scrutiny.

International relations of the kind represented by the Bermuda meeting are not a high priority.

Sir Robin Renwick, the British Ambassador to Washington, on Wednesday acknowledged that Sir John had pulled off something extraordinary.

"It is a good and positive sign that the administration has agreed to this visit,'' he said.

"That this visit is taking place at all is a testament to how well regarded Bermuda is.

"Many people have been trying to get to know the President and have had little success.'' Congressman Charles Rose, whose North Carolina district encompasses Camp Lejeune where the Bermuda Regiment trains, also acknowledged Bermuda's wherewithal in Washington.

In a conversation about the excise tax threat that died on Wednesday in the Senate Finance Committee, he said to the Premier: "You've built one hell of a machinery to look out for Bermuda's interest.'' Yesterday's meeting, the Premier said, added a vital connection for Bermuda's friends in Washington.

"Now our people can talk to the President on my behalf,'' he said.

The Premier returns to the Island this afternoon.