711.00111 Lic. Wolf, Rudolf/51/55: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 18—5:55 p.m.]
240. Department’s 90, February 17, 8 p.m. The views expressed in your telegram under reference were conveyed this afternoon by Wilson to Laugier. The latter said that after further study of the matter by the competent services of the Ministry, it appeared that there was a technical point upon which, under existing legislation and without the necessity of modifications thereof, it would be possible to refuse permission for the departure of the planes. The technical point is that the planes having been landed, the case becomes one of transit rather than transshipment, and under existing legislation it is believed that sufficient authority exists to refuse permission for transit unless assurances are received from the government of the country of destination that the planes are intended for that government or for a reliable concern in the country in question which would see to it in good faith that the planes would not be allowed to leave the country. It therefore appears according to Laugier that “under existing circumstances” permission for the transit of the planes is not likely to be given in the absence of satisfactory assurances from the Bulgarian Government.
It occurs to us that there is at least an interesting coincidence in the progress recently achieved by the London Committee and the new light thrown on the French regulations by the competent services of the French.