852.00/7764: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 15—7:45 a.m.]
613. We learn from Communist leaders who are usually reliably informed in this matter that for several weeks substantial quantities of airplanes and medium caliber guns have been coming from Russia, landed at Bordeaux and transported overland to Spain. The guns our informants think are obsolete but still very useful for fighting in Spain. They say that Paul-Boncour permitted transit through France and that Bonnet has intimated to them that while continuing nonintervention as a policy he will not interfere with this traffic.
One of our informants, a deputy, was recently told by Campinchi, Minister of the Navy, that the French air force numbers 1200 first line planes of all classes, half of them too slow.