763.72111/1552a

The Secretary of State to President Wilson

My Dear Mr. President: I am sending you an answer which Mr. Lansing has prepared to Bernstorff’s protest on hydroaeroplanes.12

Since this letter came to me I have been talking with a man acquainted with the aeroplanes and hydroaeroplanes and he confirms the information received from our army and navy officers to the effect that the hydroaeroplane differs from the aeroplane simply and solely in the machinery provided for its starting.

On land the aeroplane starts on wheels—on the water the hydroaeroplane starts on pontoons. The pontoons have nothing more to do with the hydroaeroplane than the wheels do with the aeroplane and cannot, I think, be a determining factor in deciding whether they are contraband or not. I cannot see that the hydroaeroplane differs from a balloon except in the method of operating it. A battleship could carry balloons for the purpose of scouting or carrying bombs. It would not change the rule if aeroplanes were carried and started from the ship’s deck. The rule applying to them, it seems to me, would be the same as a balloon and I cannot see that there is any material difference in this respect between the aeroplane and the hydroaeroplane.

But before mailing this I send it to you for your inspection. As I leave tonight for Raleigh to address the legislature tomorrow (returning tomorrow night) I have signed this and it will be mailed by Mr. Davis if you return it with your approval. If there is anything that you desire to speak to me about in connection with it, I will be back Sunday forenoon.

With assurances [etc.]

W. J. Bryan
  1. For protest and reply, see ibid., 1915, Supp., pp. 776, 780.