851.248/43: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 24—11:15 a.m.]
124. Delbos48 said to me this morning that the French Government had just concluded a careful examination of the situation of French military aviation. The stories of the inferiority of French aviation which were being circulated industriously throughout Central and Eastern Europe to the detriment of French prestige were exaggerated. Nevertheless the conclusion had been reached that the system of the army of building prototypes for future production but having small present production was one which was most dangerous. At the present moment the German and Italian aviation forces were [Page 301] so much more powerful than the French that they could do immense damage before France could have time to manufacture a great number of planes.
The conclusion had been reached therefore that it was essential for the French Government to purchase military planes. It had been decided that these planes should be purchased if possible in the United States. Chautemps49 had thought of the following method of procedure: that the French Government should place orders now in the United States for a considerable quantity of planes for delivery as soon as possible and should place also at the present time much larger orders for delivery in case of war.
I said at once that I felt that deliveries of American planes in case of war would be forbidden by the provisions of the Neutrality Act. Delbos argued that the French had been able to continue to send war supplies to China by stating to the Japanese that all these supplies had been ordered before the outbreak of hostilities. He suggested that the same argument might be made by the United States. I said that I did not believe such a position could be taken by the United States.
There was also a brief reference to the possibility of obtaining the latest models of American planes. I said that I was under the impression that it was the policy of our Government not to permit any company making planes for the Government to deliver the latest models to any foreign government for a minimum period of 2 or 3 years.
After some further discussion I asked Delbos if I should regard his statements to me as a formal request to be transmitted officially to my Government. He said that he had discussed the matter at length with Chautemps and knew that Chautemps had intended to speak to me about it. He would see Chautemps at luncheon today and define the Government’s position exactly.
Delbos then invited me to dine with him alone this evening and said he would go into the matter further at that time.
The question of whether or not we should permit delivery of planes after the proclamation that a state of war exists in case such planes should have been ordered before the outbreak of war, is one which has doubtless been studied by the Department. I do not feel that it is necessary for me to be in a position to give any reply to Delbos this evening. I will report further with regard to this matter after talking with Delbos.