851.248/101
The French Ambassador (Saint-Quentin) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to advise Your Excellency that the French Ministry of the Navy proposes to send to the United States a mission composed of Capitaine de Vaisseau Lartigue, Lieutenant de Vaisseau pilote Lapebie, and the Ingénieur Aéronautique Wetzel.
This mission, which is due to arrive at New York on the 21st of September, is charged with the duty of seeking in this country airplanes for the French Navy, particularly machines for airplane carriers. It expects to visit, for this purpose, the Grumman, Brewster, Chance Vought, Northrop, Curtiss, Glenn Martin, Boeing and Consolidated establishments. The mission would like to examine the machines, the exportation of which at present is permitted by the American regulations.
But it would deeply appreciate facilities which might be given to it to see the machines, the sale of which abroad, appears to be susceptible [Page 313] of being authorized in the early future, namely, the Grumman F3F–2 and the Northrop BT–1.
I would be grateful to Your Excellency if you would be so good as to let me know whether the Departments concerned have no objection to the principle of this mission, and also whether Lieutenant de Vaisseau Lapebie could be authorized to make flights on the grounds of the constructors, with certain machines, namely: Chance Vought SB2U, Grumman F3F, Northrop BT–1, and possibly Curtiss SBC, Brewster. The necessary authorizations for the visits will be requested, each time, in advance, by the Naval Attaché of this Embassy, who will furnish the necessary information regarding the program and the dates of those visits.
Please accept [etc.]