UNITED STATES FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
     NAVY DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON, D.C.
 
 
                              March 12, 1942
 
 
 
Memorandum for the President
 
Subject:       St. Paul's Rocks.
 
Enclosure:     H. 0. Chart No. 537.
 
         1.          From the chart - and the sailing directions, it
appears that:
 
          (a) St. Paul's Rocks are merely rocks - and nothing
               more.
 
          (b) Trinidad and Martin Vaz Islands end Rocas are 
                impracticable as aircraft bases. 
 
          (c) Fernando de Noronha has a lending field and
               limited facilities - not now included in 
               U.S. Army or Navy or Brazilian plans for 
               military uses. It lies some 200 sea-miles 
               from Natal - and may come into the picture
               later.
 
 
                              E. J. KING.
 
 
P.S. - The Brazilian Army now has 1 defense battalion of infantry 
          there. They plan to have 2 battalions there eventually, 
          armed with a few 7 m/m machine guns, 1 battery of 105 
          m/m guns and 1 battery of 75 m/m guns.