Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-16
FREEDOM OF THE CABLES

IN THE accountings that have followed
L most great wars undevcloped and uncx-
plotted territories were tho coveted stakes.
In the settlements Of Armageddon two new
groupings OF valuable national assets wrung
from the enemy or left by the accidents Of
war TO be contended for by ambitious pco-
pies are the cause of lively competition
among the powers.
One group is made up Of new oil fields,
in which all governments are keenly inter.
csted. The other includes the submarine
telegraph cables taken from the Germans as
we'll as some others that in the past we're
controlled BY international corporations.
When the war began several private cor
porations made of the cables system an in
strumpnt which more than one foreign gov
crnment used as a detail in military and
economic strategy formulated without much
regard for the rights of other natious The
United States found early in the war that it
could not rely on the cable service, which
was often interrupted at the European termi.
mails or closed altogether in emergencies
when Washington sought direct advices from
abroad over wires that passed under allied
control at the more important relay sta
tons. Loud complaint was raised by bus
ness interests in the United States. which
charged that they were the victims of unfair
II is this general question Of the freedom
Of the cables that has lately been matter
Of some irritation in Washington. To dis.
pos" of it fairly and peacefully, the nterna
tional communications conference which
has just adjourned without completing its
work, was originally called by Mr.. Wilson.
The peculiar nature of tho international
cables system the extent TO which national
interest is dependent on free communication
al all times bcwePu country and country,
makes something like au enlightened intprra
tionalizcd control Of the undersea telegraph
lines seem highly desirable. During the var
and after some of the foreign governments
did not hesitate to regard terminal facilities
as means for their own exclusive benefit,
Moreover. there has been determined effort
to incorporate the German built cables in q
system which is now very largely under the
control of European fuanCiers and to con-
tnue the lines as private property subject to
administration in the interest of a few of
the leading powers.
This is II elimination which our own gov
ernmcnt sought successfully to prevent.
Washington has demanded a system of cable
administration in which there shall be guar
antees Of free communication at all times
The President ordered the naval authorities
TO prevent the landing of new cables that
were laid as part of system supposed 20 be
completely under foreign control, and, pend
ing agreements TO guarantee American rights,
that new cable probably will not be landed.
Observation-Disclosures OF the German built
cables is now demanded by the government.
though the japanese hoped TO obtain exclu-
sive control of the Pacific lines. 1t is prob
able that Observation-Disclosures will be effected
at the next meeting Of the international com
muncations conference in April. Mean
while. the German lines will be- administered
as international property uuder an agree
mcnt made just before the conference ad-
journed. But it is worth observing that only
the stubborn attitude Of the United States
Government prevented the mobilization of
most OF the worlds cable lines as mo.
uopoly under European control.