From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Issues with French authorities during the covert testing of four-wheel brake cars in Chateauroux.
| Identifier | Morton\M10\ img018 | |
| Date | 21th August 1924 | |
| To BJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Y4199 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/LG21.8.24. TESTING FOUR WHEEL BRAKE CARS IN FRANCE. D/L. has shewn to me your memo. asking whether the Police in France know that the cars running out there are the property of Messrs. Rolls-Royce. As you are aware, we have leased a private Garage in Chateauroux. When the Garage was first obtained (which was before 4-wheel brakes had been announced) the Firm of R-R Ltd. was not referred to. The lease was taken out by Mr. Croyden, one of the Staff of the Paris Dept. The cars never reached France until a very much later date than it was anticipated, which was a considerable period after the announcement of the fitting of 4-wheel brakes. When the cars arrived at Chateauroux it was necessary, in order to comply with the French Law, for the drivers and mechanics to obtain a 'Carte de Identite' from the Police. The Police refused to supply the Cards because they were not satisfied with the reasons put forward of - why they were in France and - what they were doing in France. It should be remembered that at one time we had ten men at Chateauroux with two cars. To any intelligent person it was obvious that it was not a private individual enterprise. The Police there intercepted correspondence addressed to our men and interviewed the Bank and Hotel managers. Things got to such a state that it meant that we either had to explain to the Police what we were doing there, or clear out, which contd:- | ||