Your telegram was received last evening, to which we immediately replied: "Proposed amendments acceptable. Price higher. Later delivery. Postponement of deposit refused."
After careful consideration of the matter we are ready to enter into a contract to furnish a flyer such as you proposed - to carry two men, to start from the level, and to rise during the flight to a height of 300 meters.
But in order to fulfill these requirements it would be necessary for us to modify somewhat the design of our present machine and to design and construct a more powerful engine. While our present motor is quite sufficient to enable us to carry another man, the {load} of the flyer would be reduced to that point where there would be but little margin over what the contract requires. A two-man machine may require some preliminary practice in its management.
We are not willing to bind ourselves to work on such close margins, as there can be any possibility of failure either in performance or time. In case we fail in any particular, we do not receive one franc.
We are therefore compelled to make the date of delivery of a two-man flyer May 1st, 1907 (earlier if possible), and the price two million francs.
Although the actual expense of building the two-man flyer would not be a great deal more than that for one man, we think you will find our price very reasonable when you consider the fact that your option is exclusive, and that we would be restrained from delivering a flyer or instruction to any other government until three months after the fulfillment of our contract with you. The contract for the two-man flyer will in fact involve more time and risk than contracts with two countries on a basis of a one-man machine.
If we are released from the exclusive option clause, so that we can sell our present design of flyer to others at once, we are willing to make the proposed changes in the contract with you at a small additional cost- 1,200,000 francs.
The last proposition of your telegram, to postpone the date of the first deposit, we cannot consider for an instant. You were scarcely aboard your ship before new developments brought us to the realization that we had committed a grave error in granting a five weeks' exclusive option without a bonus. We will never again sacrifice opportunities by giving exclusive options without immediate and adequate deposits.
We will mail you an amended form of contract for your approval and signature tomorrow.