New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-30
America to Get
Yap-Gplarnn Line,
Ell III hess View
Foresees Satisfactory End
TO Controversy Over For
mer German Holdings Ra-
dating From Pacific Isle
Supports Proposed Cable
Government Should Build
if Private Enterprise Is.
Reluctant, Senate Is Told

From, The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 29.-In letter
to President Harding from Secretary
or State Hughes on the subject of the
construction Of an additional trans
Pacific cable, which was made public
to-day in the Senate, the Secretary
predicts a satisfactory settlement OF
the controversy over the former Ger
man cables which radiate from the
island of zap.
Secretary Hughes says it is probable
that the negotiations pending regard
ing the former German cables will re-
suit in allocating the line from zap to
Guam to the United States, and that
this government contends the priv,
leges in the use Of the old German
cables enjoyed by this country before
the war should be restored.
Bears On 25,00oO Plan
Senator Jones, chairman of the Com
merce Committee, received the letter
from the President in response to his
request for the opinion of the Executive
on his bill to appropriate $25000,0 900
for construction of an additional cable
across the Pacific. The President re-
ferred the letter OF Senator Jones to
Secretary Hughes and the latter wrote
the President the document wslich was
given out to-day. 1t does not deal
primarily with the zap dispute, but
has this to say on the subject:
"The ALLEGATION of the German
cables centering at zap has been the
or hi
nary communications conference and
negotiations arc still proceeding. The
American delegates to the conference
have contended that the service we en-
joyed in the past should be restored
and it is probable that the cable from
Guam to zap will be allocated to the
government of the United States
Secretary Hughes Endorses the project
of additional cable service across the
Pacific in his letter. He says that, with
the President, he believes construc-
ton should be by private enterprise,
but if such enterprise is unwilling to
do it the government should act.
The Secretary of State emphasizes
the Importance of an efficient and ade-
quate trans-Pacifc communications
system to the government. He thinks
Improvement and development of the
system, however, should wait on the
outcome of the negotiations over the
whatever it may be, he says, will have
an important bearing on plans for new
cables in the Pacific.
Would Await Finish of Survey
Mr.. Hughes also suggests awaiting
the completion of the survey of the
government needs for radio plans. In
this connection he said:
at is undoubtedly desirable for po-
litical, strategic and comm ercial rea-
sons that every effort should be made
to improve and extend existing COM
munication facilities across the Pacific,
the public and the government. AL
though it may be true that. because
of the great distances and large out
lays required, if trans-Pacific COM
are to be developed from
the larger viewpoint of furthering in
tercourse and trade, the government
may find it necessary to provide GER
tain services, nevertheless, at the pres
ent moment I venture to believe that
it would be the course of wisdom not
to commit the Treasury to any large
outlay, even to the extent suggested
by Senator Jones, pending the compile
as we'll as cable communication in the
Pacific and the decision with regard to
the ALLEGATION of the German cables
around zap, and then only after it
shall have been determined that the
problem cannot be taken care of by
private enterprise.
~ beg to express my entire agree
ment with your suggestion that the
provision of such services should be
left, in the first instance. to American
enterprise. / am of the opinion that
private enterprise should be given the
to say what needs they
are willing and able to provide, but
that if private enterprise is unable
or unwilling to meet the needs of the
government and the public, the gov
eminent should then, but not until
then, seek the necessary authority from
Congress"
IN