Memorandum for General March
Title
Memorandum for General March
Creator
Baker, Newton Diehl, 1871-1937
Identifier
WWP25394
Date
1918 November 4
Description
Secretary of War does not want US to be involved in bombing from the air.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--Aerial operations, American
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
MEMORANDUM for General March:
I hand you herewith a letter and various exhibits from General Bliss. Undoubtedly the proposition which is submitted with regard to the Inter-Allied Air Force will be filed with the Air Service, although it may not be at the present time taken up for further consideration. I think it important to have filed with it a statement from me, to the effect that I desire no sort of participation by the Air Service of the United States in a plan for an independent Inter-Allied Air Force which has as its object promiscuous bombing upon industry, commerce, or populations in enemy country’s disassociated from obvious military needs to be served by such action, and that should the matter of the creation of this proposed Force go forward I desire to be consulted before the United States is committed to any participation in it, and only consulted when a plan has been drawn up which limits the operations of such a force in a way that will avoid committing the United States to any agreement that making war upon a defenseless civilian population is recognized as within lawful and proper war practices.
Newton D. Baker
Secretary of War.
I hand you herewith a letter and various exhibits from General Bliss. Undoubtedly the proposition which is submitted with regard to the Inter-Allied Air Force will be filed with the Air Service, although it may not be at the present time taken up for further consideration. I think it important to have filed with it a statement from me, to the effect that I desire no sort of participation by the Air Service of the United States in a plan for an independent Inter-Allied Air Force which has as its object promiscuous bombing upon industry, commerce, or populations in enemy country’s disassociated from obvious military needs to be served by such action, and that should the matter of the creation of this proposed Force go forward I desire to be consulted before the United States is committed to any participation in it, and only consulted when a plan has been drawn up which limits the operations of such a force in a way that will avoid committing the United States to any agreement that making war upon a defenseless civilian population is recognized as within lawful and proper war practices.
Newton D. Baker
Secretary of War.
Original Format
Letter
To
March, Peyton Conway, 1864-1955
Files
Collection
Citation
Baker, Newton Diehl, 1871-1937, “Memorandum for General March,” 1918 November 4, WWP25394, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.