The Washington herald., 1919-12-30
World Conference On
Seized German Cables
To Be Held Here Soon
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

ED fhOh PAGE ONE.
the news of the activities OF the
league.
Aside from this proposed station,
the conference. at its inception. will
be divided into two groups. In re-
Atty there will be two conferences.
The first will be attended by repre- :
sentatives of the principal allied
and associated powers, and the ques-
tion of the German cables will be
taken up. The second will include
the representation OF practically
every nation in the world. and II
Is expected to provide for an ade-
iQuate arrangement OF the commu-
nication systems of the world so
that no one power may possess an
undue advantage.
When the Peace Conference was
In session the American commission
refused to acquiesce in the Franco
British ownership Of the seized Ger,
man cables. and took the same at
titude with regard to Japan's pre-
tensions. so far as the German ca
bles in the Pacific were concerned.
There have been may complaints
that American business men suffered
in competition with foreigners be-
cause the latter could "cavesdrop'
on the cable or wireless and frus-
trate American deals.
To Watch L. .. Interests.
The Pence Conference. 1t will b..
recalled. left the disposition of the
cables to the allied government, and
the first conference will attempt
either by agreement, recommended
tion or report to devise a method of
distribution of these spoils of war.
American interests will be cared for
by representatives OF this govern
ment appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate.
There are two cable systems out
of New York City which span the
Atlantic. but those in the Pacific are
numerous and stratcgically more
important. Three cable systems, for
instance. emanate from Hap Island.
which was awarded to the United
States by the peace conference, but
they are at present OF little value
to this country. One line goes to
Guam. another island possession of
the American people: second pro-
vides communication with China,
while the third touches various
point in the East Indies. Then. too.
there are two systems to Shanghai
from Tsing-Tau, which now is in the
hands of the Japanese.
The proposal to erect a wireless
station at Geneva is now in the
hands of the British. French. ItaI-
ian and Japanese governments, but
no definite action has been taken.
nor will be taken until the league of
nations begins to function.
Two Years to Erect.
The wireless would take two years
to erect. it is believed. and the cost
would be well over 81, ,OQ0.OON. Further
more. it would eCuire a special wave
length SO that it could send to all
parts of the world. II the sugges-
tions already advanced are adopted.
new low cost will be introduced at
the Geneva wireless so that every
newspaper whatever its financial abil-
ity, would be able to use II.
The proposal ultimately would be
put up to the council of the league
for action. The dispatches also reveal
that in planning for the wireless sta
tion 1t is intended. once the league is
under way, to publish a daily bulletin
Of its activities similar to the Congress
sional Record.
The question of world communica-
tion first came up in Paris at the
time Of the controversy over the Ger
man cable system. Later a confer
ence on wireless was held at the
French capital, but it was thereafter
decided to call a world conference in
Washington.