The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

control of submarine cables has been the
consistent policy of Great Britain and to-
day her cable communications connect the
home government with all her colonies ana
with every strategic point, thus giving her
exceptional advantages for commercial as
we'll as for political purposes. The sched-
ule blanks of rates of the English COM
panies contain the following provisions:
1.-THE dispatches of the imperial govern
ment shall have priority when demanded.
The cable must not at any station, en-
ploy foreigners; and the lines must not
pass through any office, or be subject to
the control of any foreign government.
In the event of war, the government (of
Great Britain) may occupy all the stations
on English territory or under the protec-
ton of Great Britain, and it may use the
cable by means of its own employees"
Although somewhat indeterminate, the
policy of the United States in respect to
the landing of foreign submarine cables, so
far at least as the executive branch OF
the government is concerned, appears to
be based chiefly upon considerations that
shall guard against consolidation or ANAL
gamation with other cable lines, while in
sisting upon reciprocal accommodations for
American corporations and companies In
foreign territory The authority of the ex-
ecutve branch of the government to grant
permission is exercised only in the absence
of legislation by congress regulating the
subject and concessions of the privileges
heretofore have been subject to such fur
Their action by congress in the matter as 1t
may at any time take. Several bills are
now pending in congress relating to the
landing of foreign submarine telegraph ca
bles within the United States, and regulat-
ing the establishment of submarine tele-
graphic cable lines systems in the
United States. AS this article is going to
press it is reported that the president has
refused permission to foreign cable com
nn1l Ia for
territory of the United States, and that the
question raised as to the power of the fed
eral government to. deny admission to the
cable will be referred to the attorney gen.
eral for an opinion Meanwhile the ex-
ecutiye branch of the government holds to
the doctrine that. in the absence of legis-
lation by congress, control of the landing
and operation of foreign cables rests with
the president. The question of the land
ing of foreign cables received some con-
sideration from the late attorney general
in connection with an injunction suit
brought by the United States against GER
tain corporations engaged in placing on
the coast of New York a cable having
foreign connection. And he suggested Tor
the consideration of congress whether II
would not be wise to give authority to
some executive officer to grant or to with
hold consent to the entry of such foreign
enterprises into this country on such terms
and conditions as may be fixed by law.
The principal and most important SUD
marine cables traversing or connecting the
great oceans are owned and operated by
| private corporations or companies. They
are in number 3d. and their length In nau-
| teal miles is 1879 TEA The length Of cables
owned or operated by state governments
| is, in nautical miles, 1s,1S2
The policies of states, the movements Oh
| fleets and armies, and the regulation of the
markets of the commercial world, depend
| upon advices, communications and orders
that are habitually transmitted through
| the agency of submarine cables. In thii
view, the first aim is to safeguard from
| wanton destruction the delicate and ex'
pensive mechanism of these cables; the SEQ
| ond is to restrain within the narrowes1
| limits practicable Interruptions in the oper>
| alton of cables, even In the midst of hos
| tilities; and the third Is to encourage the
| establishment and extension of submarine
| cables owned and operated by American
| capital. All these ends may be advanced
| by the agreement Of the powers to neu-
| tralize absolutely the submarine cable sys-
| tens of the world. To do this will be a
| step in the direction of extending inter-
| national jurisdiction, which is to be a con-
| trolling feature of the new periodical about
| to be established at Berlin, and to he
| printed in German, French ard 3n~lSh
| under the name of "KosmodllSr."