92 
light motors of the aeroplanes. It is, further- 
more, the only oil which is insoluble in gasoline. 
These properties of castor oil make it the best 
lubricant for -aeroplanes, and although mineral 
oils are used, they are not as good as castor 
oil, and the American aeroplane constructors who 
are. at work on this gigantic problem v/ant, if 
possible, to give -the American aviators every 
possible advantage over those of our enemies. 
This advantage castor oil will give them, and 
you can understand that it may be one of the most 
important points in the v/ar. 
I think every one here is convinced that the 
aviation prograjn is the most important one now, 
and its growing importance is evident every day. 
\7hen I tell you that they are planning to put 
out a hundred thousand aeroplanes, you can get 
some idea of the magnitude of this program. 
Aviation has unquestionably come to stay, and I 
would not be surprised at all to see in our life- 
time traffic of a tremendous nature across the 
Ailantic in these heavier than air machines.. They 
are now flying eighteen thousand feet in the air, 
and the flights in this rare atmosphere with the 
same power are much swifter than at sea level. In 
fact, "the possibilities of three hundred miles an 
hour are what the experienced aviators are looking 
forward to. One hundred and twenty miles have 
already been accomplished. 
In explanation of the cablegram I would say- 
that v/hat we want in the first place is a general 
statement as to the available amounts of castor 
oil which could be secured in China and the prob- 
able prices that would have to be paid. I am 
trusting to your excellent judgment to understand 
the purport of this cablegram, although I realize 
that it may be difficult to convey to you the cor- 
rect idea. I should not have thought of cabling 
you had it not been apparent from your descriptions 
connected with certain shipments of castor beans 
which you sent in several years ago that the 
Chinese use castor oil for human food. This be- 
ing the case, I assume that there are somewhere 
in China large supplies of this oil and that pos- 
sibly these supplies might be secured quickly. 
Of course, I realize that the Allies may have 
already canvassed this whole 'situation. If so, 
I feel sure you will report on what you find. 
With respect to plantings in this country, 
the seed supply is very short, and it may be. ad- 
visable to import from China very large quantities 
of seed of the best varieties. I have felt that 
we should certainly get together as cpickly as 
December 31, 1917. 
