Jean-Jules Jusserand to Frank L. Polk

The heads of our Scientific Mission, M. Fabry and M. Abraham, who are about to go back to France, called yesterday, as I told you.

The chief object of their visit was to state that no invention of a sort to solve the submarine problem is in view. One may be made of course later, or may not. It would be folly to count on such a happening.

This prospect being set aside and the solving of the problem being of the utmost importance and urgency, recourse must be had to the other means at our disposal; they chiefly consist in the submarine chaser. It would be of the utmost importance for the prompt termination of the war that these boats (not of too small a type) be built not by the tens or even the hundreds, but by the thousands. In the opinion of those scientists, there is not one field in which American resources, promptitude and efficiency, can better be applied than in this one. The effort should be immediate and on the largest scale possible.

The submarine, like the cetacean, must come to the surface to breathe. Anywhere it does it in its usual sphere of action, it must find itself within range of a submarine chaser's gun.

This opinion being that of men who have been working at inventions and who conclude that action should be taken without counting at all on any such possibility, seems to me worthy of the most serious attention, and I take the liberty of drawing yours to it.

Believe me, my dear Mr. Secretary,Hon.

Frank L. PolkActing Secretary Of StateWashingtonD.

C.