Office of the Historian

851.248/87: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State62

Paris, July 14, 1938—10 a.m.
[Received July 14—8:50 a.m.]

1108. Personal for the Secretary. Bernard M. Baruch who is now in Vichy has asked me to request you to forward to Assistant Secretary of War, Johnson, a paraphrase of a message in the following sense:

“I consider need for air defense so great that I think we should let English and French know our defense mechanism against planes. Should you desire I will personally ask this of the President. Heartiest thanks for your personal telegram. Please talk with Kindel Tripoli as soon as he arrives.”

Bullitt

  1. Notation on the original by Cecil Wayne Gray, Assistant to the Secretary of State, reads as follows: “July 14, 1938: 2:30 p.m. I communicated the above to Miss Buckingham, Secretary to Mr. Johnson, by handing her the original of the paraphrase attached. Mr. Johnson is out of town and she said she would handle with utmost caution and secrecy. I also explained that the Dept. was not sending this cable to the President unless Mr. Johnson asked us to do so. CWGray.”

    Notation on the original by the Adviser on International Economic Affairs (Feis) reads as follows: “Miss Buckingham telephoned Mr. Gray at 3:30 July 14, and told him this message had been communicated to Mr. Johnson who requested copy be not sent to the President. H. E. F.”

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