144 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean L.A.S. “Jean,” Rio de Janeiro, November 29, 1927, to his “Beloved Mom”; 3 folio-sized pages. Arrival in Rio de Janeiro to expand the Aéropostale in South America. He arrived in Rio the night before, “after a twenty-three-day crossing. Amazing weather. The trip wasn’t very fast but it was calm, with no stops since Dakar […] I experienced my first crossing of the Equator, of course. That day was the only moment of merriment we were able to enjoy during the entire journey. There were few of us French, and the Argentines aren’t exactly a lively bunch. Rio is truly a magnificent city. I’d even say it’s beyond imagination—simply marvelous. I believe the harbor could be counted among the seven wonders of the world. And what a rich city it is! I had never seen a sight as beautiful as the one I am contemplating right now.” He was “appointed chief pilot in Buenos Aires. Furthermore, I was brought into the organizational hierarchy. I will be in charge there of the administration and operation of the line. I will be responsible for hiring local pilots and mechanics, and for conducting reconnaissance trips along the routes we plan to establish toward Chile, Bolivia, and Paraguay. I’ll have to provide advice and guidance to Mr. Bouilloux-Lafont’s representative, Mr. de Siéyès, and to the Argentine representative regarding the organization of all these routes. In short, I have been entrusted with an official role that I never expected.” He did not want to accept, but Pranville, the general manager of operations, “said that it was my duty to make an effort for the sake of our aeronautical prestige here; he showed me that I could be of great service through my technical and professional experience—which I had demonstrated time and again—and that I was among those who were meant to lead rather than follow, in short, that I had to resign myself to no longer being just a pilot and soon take my place among the executives. Fine words that didn’t exactly inspire me, but to which I was forced to yield on the condition that I would not stop flying as much as a pilot—a promise that was made to me. It’s a huge responsibility, but all in all, I operate on the principle that there comes a moment in life when the opportunity to achieve something presents itself, and that one must not let it pass, lest one end up languishing miserably. […] I’ll need a great deal of diplomacy, tact, and energy in a country like Argentina, where German influence is considerable. Furthermore, as far as I can tell, Latécoère expects a great deal from me regarding his personal interests there. If he could sell a large number of aircraft in South America, what a fortune!! They’ve made me understand this… without seeming to push the issue. In short, I have a rather busy future ahead of me. But I’m determined to take the bull by the horns! If I can’t bring it down and master it, it won’t be my fault, because I’ll hold my ground, just as I always have up to now. […] if I achieve the expected results as an organization, this could turn into a major operation within a year. And as long as I keep flying, seeing new countries, and they let me do a few more demonstration flights, things are looking up”… They’re very well received: “Brazil is very French. They speak Portuguese there. It’s a completely new country. Colossal fortunes are being made there!! Rio is a city of villas, veritable little palaces, and sumptuous hotels. It seems that poverty has no place there, as everything one finds and sees there exudes comfort and even wealth. In the evening, the harbor—and indeed the entire bay—resembles a veritable river of diamonds, stretching nearly eighty to one hundred kilometers in circumference. It is a splendid sight; I would even say it is probably unique in the world”…. Correspondence, No. 129. Enclosed is a postcard sent to his mother (address, stamp, and postmark): “Porto, Portugal 9-11/27. Stopover. Lots of love from your Jean, who’s thinking of you, Mermoz.” Provenance: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family