740.0011 European War 1939/2986: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt)
373. Your 665, May 15, noon. With regard to sending an aircraft carrier to carry planes which have already been set up, it would not seem possible to load the planes in New York as, under international law and American statute, a vessel of war cannot increase its armed strength in neutral ports. However, there would seem to be no difficulties if the French desired to have the planes set up in the United States, flown to Canada, and thence by Allied pilots to some port on the east coast of Canada, possibly Halifax, where an aircraft carrier could load them.
Colonel Jacquin should naturally receive immediate instructions and adequate authority.