File No. 763.72111So4/72

The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador ( Jusserand )

My Dear Mr. Ambassador: The Department has been informed of what you have, no doubt, seen in the press, that Second Lieutenant William Thaw, Sergeant Elliot Cowdin and Sergeant Norman Prince of the French Army Flying Corps arrived in New York on December 23d on the Holland-America liner Rotterdam. As it appears that these gentlemen are in the active service of the armed forces of your Government, I would be pleased if you could find it possible to inform me as to whether this is true, and as to their purpose in thus visiting this country. I am desirous of having this information in the interest of protecting the neutrality of the United States.

I am [etc.]

Robert Lansing