Letter from J G Butcher (House of Commons) to WSC (41 Cromwell Road) describing the activities of the committee appointed to enquire into the large commissions paid by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of the United States to agents in Britain on orders placed by the Admiralty and asking WSC to attend the committee to give evidence. Encloses related papers [see CHAR 2/93/4-9]. Signed typescript.

Parliamentary questions by William Joynson-Hicks [later Lord Brentford] on the need for an inquiry into the large commissions paid in 1914 by the [Curtiss Aeroplane Company] of the United States to a representative in Britain to secure Admiralty orders. Typescript copies. Sent with CHAR 2/93/2-3.

Extracts from Admiralty papers relating to a large order placed with the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of the United States. Typescript copies. Sent with CHAR 2/93/2-3.

Summary of papers [compiled in Mar 1917] relating to the placing by the Admiralty of a large order with the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of the United States. Sent with CHAR 2/93/10.

Evidence given by WSC to the Air Department Committee inquiring into the placing of Admiralty orders with the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of the United States. Sent with CHAR 2/93/15.

Letter from Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (62 Pall Mall, London) to WSC praising his work to promote air power and advocating a separate ministry for air. Invites WSC to Beaulieu [Hampshire] and points out that he and WSC are related by marriage.

Minute by WSC stating that the Dardanelles operations could easily develop into a great siege and calling for the following measures: the provision of siege artillery and well-equipped semi-permanent landing stages; protection against submarines; the fitting of the bombarding fleet with mine protection; the provision of seventy aircraft. Printed copy.

Letter from WSC to Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] on the need for aircraft and 12-inch monitors in the Dardanelles. Printed copy.

F Tebbitt (an old Natal Colonist) to WSC, on the use of balloons against the Boers in South Africa.

Letter from F A Lindemann (later Lord Cherwell), Christ Church, Oxford, to WSC, enclosing draft letter from WSC and Austen Chamberlain to the Prime Minister [Ramsay Macdonald], on the need for a Committee to discuss the problem of defence against night bombers.

Letter from James A Petrie, Estoril, Portugal, to WSC, on German military aviation. Stating that the Germans had 1500 new aircraft, and in time of war could put into the air 4000 machines. Suggesting that Britain should start to re-arm immediately, and that to pay for it, Super-Tax should be increased by 6d or 1s in the pound.

Letter from Robert Dele, Geneva, Switzerland (Geneva Correspondent of the Manchester Guardian) to WSC, on the German Air Force, drawing attention to an article on enormously increased consumption of aluminium in Germany in "Das Neue Tage-Buch" published on 6 Apr. Commenting that it showed that there was every reason to believe that the German Air Force was much larger than the British or the French.

Letter from Desmond Morton (Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1) to WSC, commenting on letters from James Petrie and Robert Dell on German rearmament. Commenting that the figures for increased aluminium consumption in Germany were not entirely attributable to increased aircraft production, and that one could not calculate the number of aircraft built from these figures.

Letter from WSC to Edward Fitzroy, Speaker of the House of Commons, on Fitzroy's conversation with Lord Winterton on the possibility of an Adjournment Debate on the relative air strengths of Britain and Germany [carbon].

Letter from WSC to Ramsay Macdonald, Prime Minister, on the possibility of a House of Commons Debate on the relative air strength of Britain and Germany. Asking for debates on defence and the foreign situation on one of the earliest Supply Days after the Easter recess. Giving notice of question on the subject at Prime Minister's Questions [carbon].

Letter from Lord Londonderry (Secretary of State for Air), Londonderry House, Park Lane, London, to WSC, on debate on German air re-armament. Suggesting meeting to discuss the situation after Easter.

Letter from Sir Henry Page-Croft (Southwell Gardens, Gloucester Road, London SW7) to WSC, thanks for telegram suggesting that he should read Daily Telegraph article on German air strength - describing it as a complete vindication of the warnings WSC had given on German air preparations.

Letter from WSC to Stanley Baldwin, Lord President of the Council, sending copy of memorandum of his case on forthcoming debate on the Air Estimates. Commenting that he feared that Germany was ahead of Britain, not only in actual air power, but also in the momentum which their air industry had acquired [carbon].

Letter from Lord Rothermere Stratton House, Piccadilly, London, to WSC, commenting that it looked as if "war will be here soon after the end of the summer", and that he had heard via a Swiss banker that Germany had considerably more than 20,000 aircraft.

Letter from Lord Rothermere Stratton House, Piccadilly, London, to WSC, reporting conversation with Captain Norman Macmillan, President of the National League of Airmen. Stating that the League had obtained information that Germany had 441 aerodromes, nearly 20,000 aircraft and over 18,000 pilots.

Letter from Lord Londonderry, Secretary of State for Air to WSC, thanks for memorandum on German air strength. Stating that he was well aware of the dangers. Commenting that he recognised the determination of Germany to make themselves powerful enough to challenge the rest of the world as soon as possible. Stating that his paramount duty was to accelerate Britain's rate of development, and he was "leaving o stone unturned" to put policy into effect.

Pamphlet - Volkerbund - The Journal of the German Association for League of Nations Questions - on "The Red Army".

Letter from Lord Londonderry, Stratton House, Piccadilly, London, to WSC, enclosing memorandum by Captain Norman Macmillan - "An Analysis of Possible German Air Strength Today".

Letter from WSC to Robert Dell, thanks for information about German consumption of aluminium. Commenting that there were reassuring explanations for the figures, but agreeing that there was a grave danger from the growth of German aviation [carbon].