21
BRITISH WBthSt,
WASHINGTOH, D.C.
Februanr 24th, 1939
No.231
«y Lord,
X have the -honour to inform Your Lordship, with
reference to my despatch No.151 of February 7th, regarding
the sale of aircraft to the French Government, that after
some discussion the Senate Military Affairs Committee decided
to make public the text * edited so as to ensure that nothing
really secret was included - of the minutes of the secret
meetings at which this transaction was discussed* These
minutes have been published is the newspapers during the
past week.
2m Despite the excitement which was aroused at the
time when the matter was actually being discussed by the
Committee it would not appear from those records that there
was really anything ve y sensational in the evidence given
by the various officials examined*     Xt seems clear that, as
stated in the enclosed article In the "Hew Tork Times* of
February 21st, It was the United States Ambassador in Paris -
who woe on leave in this country at the time - who first urged
the desirability of assisting the French Government to buy
aircraft in the United States.   It seems cleart too, that the
American military authorities at first felt some hesitation
In affording the necessary facilities both from the point of
view of secrecy and because they wore apprehensive of the
effect/
The Right Honourable
The Viscount Halifax, K.G.,
etc.   etc. etc.,
RCL:FRHK:DH:RC

effect that any Trench orders sight hare on the United States
rearaonent programme.   It would sees that the Military
authorities were overruled by toe President, who himself
Issued the orders that the desired facilities were to be
extended to the French Mission*   It seems equally clear,however,
from the records that no particularly secret aircraft were
shown to the French Mission and that it sas generally agreed
that the /aerican reexnaroent plane would hot be prejudiced. On
the contrary it see felt that the French orders would sake
it easier for the American aircraft Industry to undertake the
orders which would eventually be placed by the United States
Government'.
3. The Committee's investigations would sees to
have convinced most of its members that after all there was
nothing very much in the whole affair and even Senator Austin
of Vermont, who was at first most insistent thst the matter
oalled for searching Investigation, is reported to have' declared
himself satisfied.
A. Most of the newspapers - apart from the "Chicago
Tribune" - take the same line end several leader writers emphasise
thst in considering the whole question the important point to
examine is not whether ell the routine formalities were exactly
complied with, but whether by supplying these aircraft to France,
the united States are or ere not decreasing the chances of a
European war breaking out,*
5* On the other head, the extreme isolationists still
profess to be gravely concerned over the setter, and Senator Nye
has felt impelled to Introduce a bill into the Senate to
"supplement/
25
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"supplement existing laws relating to the isaintenarjce of secrecy
with ritpMt to certain military and naval aircraft." The
effe'ct of this bill, the text of which hat only just become
available and is being examined, would be to impose, certain
restrictions on the inspection by agents of foreign Governments
of American built aircraft.
I have the honour to be,
witli the highest respect,
My Lord,
Tour Lordship's most
obedient, humble servant,