865.3311/43
The Secretary of State to the Italian Ambassador (Martino)
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency, the Royal Italian Ambassador and has the honor to refer to his note of June 10, 1926, requesting that permission be granted for a flight over United States territory by a Dornier hydroplane of the Italian Navy, the localities concerned being New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Seattle, Washington; Malta, Montana; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; Hot Springs and Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico; Salt Lake City, Utah; Omaha, Nebraska; St. Louis, Missouri; Pago Pago, Tutuila, American Samoa, and Manila, Luzon Island, Philippine Islands.
The Secretary of State has now received from all the interested Federal Departments and Governors of the states concerned, replies indicating that there is no objection on their part to the proposed flight over United States territory and that they will be glad to extend the courtesies and facilities usual on such occasions.
It is presumed that the members of the crew will be in possession of passports or that they will be included in a crew list visaed by a consular officer of the United States. The Secretary of State will be glad to be informed of the date and place of the expected arrival in order that the appropriate federal officers may be detailed to conduct the examination required by the immigration laws.
The Secretary of War states that the Army Air Service will be pleased to render any assistance practicable to the Italian officers making this flight, and with this end in view states that it is desirable that the War Department be informed of the approximate dates on which the officers expect to arrive at the various places listed in the itinerary.
The Secretary of the Navy in stating that the appropriate Naval authorities have been duly advised and that every facility possible will be accorded, adds that the customary restrictions as to flying over forts, naval stations and naval vessels, should be noted.
The Secretary of the Treasury states that his Department will be glad to accord the same courtesies to the Italian hydroplane and its officers as are accorded to visiting warships of foreign nations.
The Governor of Missouri states that the 35th Division Air Service of the National Guard of that state, located just at the edge of St. Louis, will be glad to place their landing field at the disposal of the Italian officers and render them any assistance possible.
In case the contemplated flight should be taken from St. Louis to Kansas City, or vice versa, the Governor of Missouri will be glad to [Page 447] have the officers visit the Capitol, and will be pleased to receive them in the Executive Chamber. A landing field is within a very short distance of the Capitol. In conclusion the Governor states that in case the officers should pass over the State of Missouri, and he is informed in time, he will, if they so desire, see that air machines of Missouri escort them across the state and pilot them to a landing field.11
- On Feb. 1, 1927, the Italian Ambassador advised the Secretary of State that the itinerary of the flight had been modified so that the only localities in the United States concerned were the following: New Orleans, Hot Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Malta, Chicago, St. Louis, New York and Galveston. The appropriate Federal and State authorities were notified of the changed itinerary, and on Feb. 28, 1927, the Italian Ambassador was informed that the Governor of Texas had given his consent to the proposed flight over Galveston. (File No. 865.3311/44.)↩