The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-14
WILSON AND BRYAN D|SCOSS THE CABLE CENSORSHIP PLAN
Virtually Agree That I'm partial Neutrality Means Cens0ring of Cables As
 Well as the Wireless

Washington, August 1s.-President Wilson and Secretary Bryan today dis cussed at length plan to apply at all cable offices in the United States the same censorship which recently had been placed on wireless stations to pre- vent neutral territory from being used as base for the transmission of military or naval information to bel iigerent European countries
 At the conclusion of the conference II became known that the President and Mir Bryan virtually were agreed that an impartial enforcement of neutrality would require censoring of cables as well as wireless
 A new phase was called to their att tention, however. which has delayed 'shal decision until tomorrows cabinet meeting. This is the ease with which G1eat Britain could evade the censor ship by having her messages sent over the Canadian bcrder for transmission through Canadian cables
 Would Eliminate Censor
 Although the German government has protested against the unrestricted use VI Nht tdbit Us i1ftB idHu ITDnl the Gnlt- cd States, while German owned wire less companies cannot send code mes- sas es, the elimination of all forms of C. nsorship in the United States on either cable or wireless is said to be the wish of the German government as well as commercial companies con- G sned
 The question of the governments au- thority over cable companies has re- ceived careful study at the state de- partment in connection with the sub ject of neutralizing radio systems. off |cials have satisfied themselves the gov ernment is within it's rights in exer- cising any measure of control it may deem necessary to preserve impartiality during the present war
 Strong representations have been made to the state department not only by belligerent powers. but also by the great commercial interests against any attempt to control either the wireless system or cables. The German govern ment made such representations in be : half of the German station at Sayville, L. i.. and Tuckerton, N. J. and the Mar ecni company, the British concern, has pf otested against interference with the workings of it's stations. They point to Article VIII of The Hague conven- tion to justify their contention that the United States is guilty of unwarrantable interference in establishing a censor ship. This articles reads:
 "A neutral power is not called 10 forbid or restrict tine use on behalf of the belligerents of telegraph or telphcne cables or of wireless telegraph appara- tus belonging to it or to companies or private individuals"
 F0rbids Stations
 Another article of The Hague conxe ton forbids billigerents to erect on the territory of a neutral power a wire less telegraph station or other appara- tus for the purpose of working with belligerent forces on land or sea; or to use any installation of this kind estab- lished by them before the war on the territory of a neutral power for purely military purposes and which has not been opened to the. service of public messages"
 This clause would not apply to Mar |coni stations which were established long before the war and used for com : mercial business. Whether or not it would apply to the German stations at Tuckerton and Sayville would depend on whether they we're military stations or had been uSpd for public moss "a oe