In the conference on board the Pangulo, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew informed me that the United States had asked him even before the American elections last January to allow the refueling in Singapore of submarine surveillance planes (Awac) flying towards the Indian Ocean from Clark Filed to refuel at Singapore to give the planes another seven hours flying time
He spoke of Russian killer submarines now assigned to the Indian Ocean to hunt down American submarines (possibly Polaris submarines) which could easily attack Russia with their missiles directly from the Indian Ocean.
This required constant American alert against these long-range Russian killer submarines.
I have a suspicion that even U.S. anti-submarine planes from Guam would find it convenient to refuel in Singapore.
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew opted not to answer the American request until after the elections and the request is from both the U.S. President and Congress.
He also casually said that while the U.S. may not effectively fall back on the Marianas, in case we close the bases in the Philippines, Cockburn Sound in Australia could effectively replace such bases.
And while the Cockburn Sound facilities are not yet furnished they could be rushed if needed.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.