820.7961 Dept. of Commerce Flight/26
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Cuba (Williamson)
Sir: Reference is made to despatch No. 325, dated June 26, 1928, from the Embassy at Habana, transcribing a telegram received by it from the Embassy at Buenos Aires with respect to a flight from Buenos Aires to New York contemplated by Lieutenant James Doolittle, in which it is stated that Lieutenant Doolittle plans to stop at Cienfuegos for fuel and requests that permission be obtained from the Cuban Government to land and fly in Cuba and that customs courtesies be accorded him. In the absence of previous information concerning the flight of Lieutenant Doolittle, the Embassy requested to be instructed whether it should ask the Cuban Government to grant the facilities mentioned.
In reply you are informed that, under arrangements made by the Department of Commerce, two American built airplanes recently were sent to South America on an experimental flight under the supervision of Mr. James D. Summers, Aeronautical Trade Commissioner of the Department of Commerce for Latin America, and that Lieutenant Doolittle was a member of the party. In connection with this flight the Department addressed instructions to certain missions in Latin America directing them to request free entry for the equipment and permission for the flight in the territory of the countries to which they were respectfully accredited.
In view of the foregoing, you are authorized to inform the appropriate authorities of Lieutenant Doolittle’s proposed stop at Cienfuegos and to request free entry for such equipment as he may carry and permission for his flight in Cuba.
I am [etc.]