New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26
THE NEUTRALU OF CABLES
INTERESTING PROBLEMS AS TO THE
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH LINES
IN WAR TINES


Eleven of these connect the Canadian Prov
inccs and the United States with the territory
of Great Britain; two Zone American the other
Anglo Amercan) connect france or these
seven are largely owned, operated or controlled
by American capital, while all the others are
under English control and management There
is but one direct submarine cable connecting the
territory Of the United States with the continent
Of Europe, and that is the cable owned ana
operated by the Compagnie Francois cables
Teagraphiques whose termini Brest,
France and Cape Cod on the coast or Massa-
chusetts. All these cables between 6o ana ~
degrees north latitude, which unite the Onited
States with Europe, except the frehch capie,
are under American English control ana
have their termni in the territory or Great
Britain or the United States In the event OK
war between these countries, unless restrained
nv conventional act all these cables might Do
cut or subjected to exclusive censorship on INC
part Of each Of the belliserent states across
the South Atlantic there are three CARES. one
American and two English whose ternhhi arc
Pernambuco, Brazil, and st. Louis, Africa ana
near Lisbon, Portugal with connecting Ing .se
lish lines to England, one directly traVershs lns
high seas between Lisbon and EnBliSn leITi-
tory, and one touching at Vigo, SPAN at wniGn .
point German cable company mas recehuy
made a connection. The multiplication unoef
English control Of submarine cables mas peen
the consistent policy Of Great Britain, ana To-
day her cable communications connect me nome
government with all her colonies ana WIN every
strategic point, thus giving her eAceptohai az.
vantages for commercial as well as for poiltlcaA
purposes The schedule blanks Of rates OF the
English companies contain the following pro-
visions: The dispatches Of the Imperial GoV-
eminent shall have priority when DEMANDED
The cable must not at any station, employ Iol-
egncrs, and the lines must not pass through any
Office or be subject to the control OF any foreign
Government. In the event If war, the Govern
ment (of Great BRITAIN may occupy all the
stations on English territory or under the pro-
lection OF Great Britain. and 1t may use the
cable by means Of its own employees
II is not a pleasing reflection that in the ac-
tual situation the United States is at great and
embarrassing Disadvantage. Meanwhile
would seem TO be the policy OF the United states
to overcome this disadvantage by the multipli-
cation of submarine cables under American or
other than English competing foreign ownership
and control.
Although somewhat indeerminate. the policy
OF the United States in respect TO the Iandine
Of foreign submarine cables, so far at least, az
the executive branch Of the Government is con-
ccrned appears 10 be based chiefly upon consid-
erafions that shall guard against consolidation
or amalgamation with other cable lines. while
insisting upon reciprocal Accommodations Tor
American corporations and companies in foreign
territory The authority OF the executive branch
Of the Government to grant permission Is exer-
cised only in the absence OF legislation by Con-
gress regulating the subject, ana concessions OK
the privileges heretofore have been subject 10
such further action by Congress in the matter
it may at any time take Severai DIS arc
now pending in Congress relating to the landing
Of foreign submarine telegraph cables within tho
United States. and regulating the establishment
in the United States As this article is going to
press it is reported that the President has re-
fused permission To n foreign cable company to
renew a cable terminus within the territory or
the United States and that the question raised
as 10 the power Of the Federal Government 10
deny admission to the cable will be referred to
the Attorney General for an opinion. Mean
while the executive branch OF the Government
holds TO the doctrine that, in the absence OF
legislation by Congress. control OF the landing
and operation of foreign cables rests with tho
President. The question of the landing OF for
eign cables received some consideration from the
late Attorney General. in connection with an In
junction suit brought by the United States
against certain corporations engaged in placing
the coast OF New York a cable having for .
eign connection. And he suggested Tor the con-
sideration Of Congress whether il would not Ike
wise 10 give authority TO some executive officer
to grant or withhold 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 submarine
cables traversing or connecting the great oceans
owned and operated 10y private corporations
companies. They are In number 30. and
their length i'm nautical miles Is l:ol54. Tho
length OF cables owned or operated ny state gov
ernments is. I'm nautical miles. IS. ~
The policies Of States the movements OF fleets
and armies, and the regulation of the markets
OF the commercial world. depend upon devices,
communicat tons and orders that habltually
transmitted through the agency of submarine
cables In this view the first aim Is to safe
guard from wantOn destruction the delicate and
expensive mechanism OF these cables: the sec
ond Is restrain within the narrowest limits
practicable interruptions in the operation Of
bles. even in the midst OF hostlties; and the
third Is to encourage the establishment and ex-
tension OF submarine cables owned and operated
by American capital All these ends may be ad-
vanced by the agreement or the Powers TO neu-
traze absolutely the submarine cable SYSTEMS
OF the world. To do this will be a step In the
direction Of extending international jurisdiction,
which is TO be controlling feature OF the new
periodical about TO be established at Berlin. and
TO he printed in German. French and English,