Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-11

took more complete control over
American cables passing through
their territory than did England.
Mr. Davis and President Carlton
argued with considerable heat over
the State departments opposition to
the Western Unions attempted con-
nection with the British cable sys-
TEN in Brazil via the Barbados
cable. Mr.. Carlton declared the
State department had made threats
to the Cuban government" to prevent
the connection going through that
island and that President Menocal
now had before him the question of
revoking a license already granted
for landing the Barbados cable in
Cuba.
THE State department has done
nothing of the kind" Mr.. Davis said.
President Carlton promptly broke in
to characterize this statement as
diplomacy" The Western Union
head insisted that American OFF,
Gals" had made representations to
the Cuban government and Mr..
Davis replied that no one but the
State department had authority to
take such step.
President Carlton asserted that
''as instancing the animus of the
State department in prosecuting an
American corporation, that ship
ment of cable to his company,
through a Cuban subsidiary of the
Bell Telephone System, had been
stopped by the American govern
ment. Secretary Davis also denied
this assertion.
II can still catch that ship" Mr..
Carlton interjected. DO l under
stand that you will do nothing pre-
judicial to the telephone company if
they bring on the cable?"
Mr.. Davis said nothing would be
done 'if the Western Union lays no
cable surreptitiously in American wa
ters." Mr.. Carlton annouced he
would get on the wires and catch
that ship"
Secretary Davis made more definite
his denial that the Cuban govern
ment had ben asked to stop the
landing of the Barbados cable.
Can I tell the Cuban government
that?" Mr.: Carlton asked s
Tell them anything you please"
the secretary replied.
I've been appointed by certain
people, suggesting that since the
Western Union is making such a dir
ty figh over this cable" Mr. Davis
added. cit would be an easy thing to
get the Cuban government to block
it. I've replied that the United States
ought NOT to be in he position Of
going before at oreign government
asking action against an American
corporation"
Mr. Carlton announced that some
officials of the United States are do
ing it," and an agreement was made
to get evidence later.
Frederick Roy Martin, acting gen.
eral manager 0 fthe Associated Press
told the committee at it's morning
session that any increase Of cable ia
cilities out of the United States
would increase dissemination Of
American news reports and described
the present system of distributing
news to American insular possess
SlOnS du0 10 ooutu +AHieIlcd' 10 SCI
sufficient facilities in South America,
he said, The Associated Press had
been forced to go through the neck
of the bottle at London in cable COM
munications and contract with an
English company for dispatch of n
million words a year.
George T. Hargreaves, representing
the Universal Service also spoke of
difficulties and congestion encoun-
tered in cable news distribution.
Walter S. Rogers. an American
delegate to the international commu-
nications conference. will appear be-
fore the committee tomorrow