File No. 763.72111/212
Tice German, Ambassador (Bernstorff) to the Secretary of State
New York, September 23, 1914.
[Received September 25.]
My dear Mr. Secretary: I am in possession of thee following facts:
Mr. Riley E. Scott, an ex-Lieutenant of the United States Army, until very recently engaged in instructing the Aviation Corps of the United States Army near San Diego in the practice of dropping bombs from aeroplanes, has offered his services for that purpose to France or her allies.
Mr. Scott expects to arrive in New York within the next few days from California, and to proceed to Europe as soon as may be, for the purpose just described.
The above information was given to me voluntarily by an American metallurgical engineer, Mr. Howard F. Wierum, by whom Mr. Scott was at one time employed. Mr. Wierum personally saw the cable from Mr. Scott offering his services to France, and also the cable reply of the French War Office. This was in London, about August 8. Mr. Wierum is now in New York, and though glad to state under oath all that he knows concerning Mr. Scott’s activities in the past and intentions in the future, yet is very anxious not to be publicly known in the transaction, as Mr. Scott’s backers in Europe are close business associates with Mr. Wierum.
I should greatly appreciate an expression from you as to whether the strict neutrality of the United States Government would permit of its exercising any restraining or warning influence upon Mr. Scott’s plans. We think that at least the shipment of his bomb-dropping apparatus (which he has patented and with which quite remarkable accuracy was obtained during certain international contests held in Paris three years ago) should be prevented, though I understand that his backers in Europe (also Americans—Messrs. Hart O. Berg of Paris and William A. Hall of New York, both resident in London) are in possession of duplicate apparatus.
If, with thorough proof, the hostile activities of Mr. Scott are thus laid before you, I think the nature of the hostility displayed is sufficiently unique and different from an enlistment of a mere ex-United States Army officer to call for a special action by the United States Government.
Believe me [etc.]