Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-15
mo CABLE CENSOR
At RELAY POINTS
Commissioner Rogers Tells
Senate Committee Of
Tentative Agreement.

A
censorship shall be imposed upon
messages merely passing through re-
Law points" has been reached by the
international communications con-
ference here, Walter s. Rogers, one of
the American commissioners to the
conference, declared today before
Senate committee investigating the
whole question of cable communica-
tions.
DO you know of any instances
where American business messages
passing through British censorship
durlrg the war were copied and turn
ed over to English traders" Senator
Kellogg asked Mr.. Rogers.
"I heard a great deal Of complaint
of that Mr.. Rogers said. "but have
never followed up any instances. 1t
to know that cablegrRms concerning
a foreign trade possibility are being
exchanged. We are somewhat in the
same position that Germany MAS when
it began building its own cables. and
are seeing the Importance of having
our own cables. Cable landings in
foreign countries are made subject
to conditions Of varying strictness.
THE only thing then. Is for the
United States to. exercise its own
power of controiT' Senator Kellogg
asked.
yes" Mr.. Rogers aaid.
Ameriean News Abroad.
4swhy is it that American news is
not published abroad" Senator Kel-
ness had completed an outline Of
existing world communication facfl-
tiles.
Europeans before the war were
not interested in American news" Mr..
Rogers said, "and also London had
Of the world, by a combination of sin-
fuences. There are four great news
agencies operating over clearly de-
fined spheres. the American Associat-
ed Press. Reuters of England, the
Havas Company. for France. and the
rious competitors. The United States
is unquestionably the worst adver-
tised abroad OF the great powers.
The situation has been rapidly
changing. Tbe United Press. an
American agency. entered South
rnsa ano tn@ contract witS
Havas. and commenced service there
too. 1t has been found definitely that
Latin America, formerly served with
world news from Paris. wants Amer
ican news, will publish it. and that
|
relationship generally.
"Of course, nothing can help inter-
national understanding better and in
crease trade and reduce frfctions than
these new relationships. The United
States can do nothing better than fa-
keep the avenues open.
subsIdizinx News Agencies. 4
Some governments are now subsi-
dizing news agencies--
What are those governments%' ~
Senator Kellogg asked. i
That's dangerous question and
can't answer it," Mr.. Rogers replied,
and Senator Kellogg withdrew it.
There is only one answer to that
sort of a situation" Mr.. Rogers re-
sumed. ito prevent the coloring Of
aganda- It is low press rates and
complete facilities. If these are se-
cured the regular agencies will fur
nish more news. better news and un-
biased news than any government
subsidized institution can. and the
newspapers will have no difficulty in
discriminating"
Mr.. Rogers agreed that tie United
States should have definite power to
control cable landings.
American Claim n to Cables.
Acting Secretary Davis of the State
Department said. with reference to
the German cables, that the American
government had inaisted that the
United States had "a right to a di-
rect connection with Germany such
a. we had before the war"
AT the peace conference" Mr.
Davis said, Great Britain, Japan and
| France contended that the German
cables were prizes of war. 1t was the
American contention that they should
| be returned practically to their former
use An agreement was finally reach
ed that Germany should cede the
| cables to the allied powers. ofYsetting
their value against the reparatfon to
be exacted. Their future status was
| left for later determination
| No communication between the
| United States and Germany is now
available. Mr.. Davis said, except over
! the British controlled lines.