New-York tribune., 1918-11-26
Experts Predict Obstacles
to Government Purchase
of Radios Also
Seizure Would Give
Advantage to Britain
Foreign Concessions Not
Transferable, One
Official Says

Diplomatic tangles affecting, perhaps,
the United States and European ma
tons were predicted yesterday as one
of the obstacles to government own
ership of transoceanic cables, or even
radio plants.
1t was pointed out by experts that
every great power jealously guards its
right to take over cable communication
in time of necessity and that clauses
in the chayters of the companies trans
acting business in such countries pro-
hibt them from delegating the rights
given to the companies to any other
person or corporation.
Incidentally the United States would
find itself at decided disadvantage in
competing with Great Britain, if both
countries should take over the cables,
according to George G. Ward, vice.
president and general manager of the
Commercial Cable Company. Great
Britain would be entirely independent
of the United States under such a sys-
TEN OF public ownership, while the
United States would not be indepen-
dent Of that country.
Only One Direct Cable
There is only one cable running
direct from the United States to Eu-
rope, and for economic reasons, ef-
flciency and maintenance it is not
very likely there will be another" he
said. "The distance is too great and
such a lengthy cable is Of very much
less practical value than cables of
shorter lengths.
"Al the other cables from the
United States form only parts of the
transatlantic system. They run from
points in the United States to points
in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland or the
French island of St. Pierre and thence
traverse the Atlantic to Great Britain
or France. Consequently the vital
sections of the cables, namely, the
main Atlantic Ocean portions, are COM
pletely under the jurisdiction of the
British or French governments.
II can hardly conceive that even in
the event Of dual government owner
ship of the cables, the British and
Canadian governments would consider
any other government but their own
having control over the operations of
the cables between Canada and Great
Britain.
Would Control Ends Only
Under these circumstances the
United States would be left merely
with control over the American ends
OF the cables between American ter
ritory and Canada OF newfoundland"
Just what will be done with cables
IN foreign countries, which presumably
would be taken over with the other
properties of the American concerns
is not known. Mr. Ward said that the
British, French and Portuguese con.
cessions under which the company's
cables were landed in Europe speci
ncally provided that the rights con
ferred upon the company could not be
transferred to others.
Edward j. Nally, vice president ane
general manager of the Marconi Wire
less Telegraph Company of America
made statement in which he charged
tnat the statement concerning wireless
operation given out by the Navy De
partment was an effort to belttle an,
minimize the Importance of wireles
competition with the cables.
Gut IN Cable Rates Forced
Concerning the extended opportuni
ties for wireless communications Mr.
Nally said:
AS a matter of fact, before the wa
the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Com
pany had inaugurated its transpacif
service with Japan and was buildin
up very successful commercial busi
ness with the Orient The cable com
panies recognized that there was a com
petitor in the field, because they wer
forced to reduce their rates and to ad
new classes of service, which. durin,
all the years they monopolized trans
Paclnc communication, they had re
The Marconi Company, by reason o
It's organization and its improved an
paratus, particularly with the aid Of th
Meagant invention, of which wide an
nouncement was recently made. is i
POSITION TO guarantee to the busines
puoiic accurate and reliable serv;c
at ali times and at rates lower ~ ~,
tnose charged by the cables A,read ond
IS neing petitioned by business firm
on tne Pacific coast and in New Yor
70 resume its service. owing n N
cohgested condition of the cables On
me poor service which they are pivin,
III seems pity. at this time wba
eiaHsoceanic communication is so ;n
POT Itaht' that commercial wireless cor
pahies should not be given the fnIIas
opportunity to meet the public d+
lnands" Puoiic oe