Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The British Commonwealth, Europe, Near East, and Africa, Volume II

851.248/53: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State

Paris, February 23, 1938—noon.
[Received February 23—9:25 a.m.]

287. For the President. Senator de La Grange called on me this morning and requested me to send you a personal and ultra confidential communication from him as follows:

As an outgrowth of his conversations with you and his investigations in the United States the French Minister of Air⁵² has decided to place an order with Curtiss Wright for P–36s and also to purchase the license for the manufacture of P–36s in France. Goulding, representative of the Curtiss Wright, who is now in Paris, is prepared to close the deal. The French Minister of Air in order to protect himself from possible future criticism insists, however, that the well known French aviator should be permitted to fly one of these planes before the French Government places its order.

De La Grange asserted that there were only three P–36s in flying condition; that they were at Dayton, Ohio, and were the property of the Air Corps.

De La Grange said that you had asked him to handle questions connected with this matter through you and therefore asked me to communicate with you personally and urgently to ask if Detroyat, one of the most famous French fliers, would be permitted in entire privacy to fly one of these planes if he should sail for the United States on the Washington tomorrow evening.

De La Grange expressed the hope that you might find it possible to answer today so that Detroyat could catch the boat tomorrow evening in case your answer should be favorable.

I shall be at the Edge residence, Passy–8615 or 7457 from 11 o’clock a.m. Washington time for the rest of the day in case you should prefer to say yes or no over the telephone.

Incidentally, I reminded de La Grange that in case of war in Europe involving France you would be obliged to declare that a state of war existed and the export of planes, even those ordered now, would be forbidden by the Neutrality Act. I also informed him that I had made a similar official statement to Delbos on the basis of a communication from the Secretary of State. He said that he understood entirely our point of view with regard to this matter.

Bullitt

52. Guy La Chambre.