 Seeking a union with the United States was not a referendum option, despite the idea having some currency amongst locals.With the Cold War looming, U.S. interests in Newfoundland were centred primarily on its strategic importance to the defence of North America.The Americans' ability to maintain bases on the island satisfied those concerns — after receiving assurances that the Canadian government would honour the leases for bases on Newfoundland, the U.S. State department had no further interest in the political future of Newfoundland.