851.248/67: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 17—12:35 p.m.]
779. The following communiqué was published yesterday by the Ministry of Air:
“The Minister of Air declares: the Supreme Air Board recently approved a plan for the modernization and enlargement of the Air Force.
The Minister having taken cognizance of the plan immediately invited French builders to bid for its realization. Their engagements relating to the first portion of the program and for the supply of certain equipment being materially inferior to the most urgent needs, as ascertained by military authorities, the Minister decided to make good the difference by ordering 100 airplanes from American manufacturers the operation of which is equivalent to that of our best planes recently ordered.
If, as is to be anticipated, the engagements taken by French industry for the second portion are fulfilled it will not be necessary in the future to place similar orders, and the present transaction will not include other supplies than those now ordered.”
I had some days ago an exhaustive conversation with the Minister of Air on this subject and it is my impression that for the moment at least the French will place no further orders in the United States. Incidentally Glenn Martin, who is about to leave Paris, is convinced that there is no market here for bombing planes.