COPY/
 
April 4, 1934.
 
 
 
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
 
 
Dr. Willard L. Thorp,
 
Director, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce,
 
Washington, D. C.
 
 
Dear Dr. Thorp:
 
 
Subject: American Firms Assisting Germany's Air Armaments.
 
 
The subject matter of this letter does not
ordinarily fall within the scope of the Commercial 
Attache's office and accordingly I have already 
informed the Embassy and the Military Attache concerning 
everything that is herein contained. Nevertheless, 
the subject is such an important one and I have 
received a first-hand evidence on it, I believe 
to a greater extent than some of the other Government 
representatives here, so that it may be desirable 
for me to submit this information to the Bureau 
for what use you decide to make of it.
 
 
In the last few weeks, several representatives
of American aviation companies have discussed with 
me their new orders in Germany. The United Aircraft 
concern, and particularly their Pratt & Whitney unit, 
have had a total of six representatives in Germany
for some time. They are selling aviation equipment, 
principally motor parts, including crankshafts, cylinder 
heads and other items which the Germans apparently can-
not make satisfactorily. They are delivering now 
enough material for about lO0 airplanes per month and 
are increasing this figure as fast as they can, as the 
Germans are bombarding them with cables for more speedy 
shipments. In all, they now have orders for equip-
ment for 2,000 airplanes. A representative of the
Sperry Gyroscope Company informed me last week that
his firm is delivering automatic pilots and gyro com-
passes and other aviation instruments here to equip 50 
airplanes per month at the present rate of delivery and 
are speeding up the process.    Furthermore, that they 
have sold the manufacturing rights to the Askania
Works here for the manufacture of a number of their de-
vices, including, I believe, some of their fire control 
systems for anti-aircraft guns.
 
 
Today, a representative of the Curtis-Wright
Company informed me that he is just starting business
in Germany and hopes to get in on some good orders. A
few Curtis-Wright machines have already been sold here.
The Douglas Company has also had some business here lately.