Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-14
SPYING ON BUSINESS i
- i.I:. tlh
How England Keeps Up With Amerl.
can Trade. : :e:::;?i ,e.:;?:i;
READS COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

the Outcome of the CONTROVERSY
Now. on Between the State Depart
ment and the Western Union Te!c-
graph Company.
Washington, Jan. 10-Charses that
the British government exercises sur
reillance over American cable bust
ness, official as well as private. pass
| ing through the British Isles and that
the state department had extended it's
controversy with the Western Union
Telegraph e. Cable company TO bring
in the Cuban government came up TO-
day before a senate committee con-
siderinS cable legislation.
Norman H. Davis, acting secretary
Of state and Newcomb Carlton, presi-
dent Of the Western Union, conducted
cross-t table argument over the Gu
ban allegation when Mr.. Davis fatty
denied it. Chairman Kellogg ended
the hearing by questioning Mr.. Carl
ton as to the English practices.
Clarence II. Mackay. head Of the
Postal Telegraph Gable company,
another witness, told the committee
that English secret service authorities
were obtaining copies of all cable
messages.
Mr.. Carlton several times expressed
reluctance to discuss the subject Of
English surveillance because it would
make trouble" but at last yielded.
'Ten days after messages have been
transmitted" Mr.. Carlton explained.
'our copies of them are turned over to
British secret service, which keeps
them for q few hours, and then re-
turns them.
mo exception is made, and the
American official dispatches, like the
dispatches to all other countries to-
and from England are included. but
have reason to believe that no ex-
animation is made of them I have
been assured that the official MESA
ges are not even inspected, but they
are in the physical possession of the
authorities while other messages are
being inspected"
Reason for Surveillance.
The orders for surveillance were is
sued, Mr.. Carlton explained, because
Of dfsturlSed conditions in Great
Britain and Europe. ..-s.,..-
He indicated that other European
countries took more complete control
over American cable messages pass
ing through their territory than did
England.
Mr. Davis and p: :esident Carlton
argued with considerable heat over
the state departments opposition to
the Western Unions attempted con-
nect!on with the British cable system
in Brazil via the Barbados cable.
Mr.. Carlton declared the state depart
ment had made threats to the Cuban
government to prevent connection
going through that island and that
President Menocal now had before
him the question of revoking license
already granted for landing Of the
Barbadoes cable in Cuba.
"rhe state department has done
nothing of the kind" Mr.. Davis said
md President Carlton promptly broke
in to characterize this statement as
diplomacy"
Wants Gables Restored.
Mr.. Mackay stated that he could
not too strongly urge the Importance
of the United States government in
sistng on the restoration by England
and France ;of the former German
cables which before the wal ran be-
tween the United States and Ger
many and which were seized and di-
vcrtcd by England and France during
the war. FIe stated that these two
cables were great assets to American
trade with Germany and northern
Europe as is evidenced by the fact
that 81 per cent. of the total cable
traffic between the United States and
Europe was with Germany and that
by reason OF the British and French
SbN llllltIllS cutting NiNSisitS
these German cables to England and
France American trade was now de-
privcd Of these cable facilities. He
stated further that in tho year 1913,
SIC, 900 messages passed over these
two German cables between the
United States and Germany and that
this figure would show what it means
to American trade and commerce to
be sulnmarily deprived of these cables.
While paying great tribute to Great
Britain and France for their work
during the war he states that as
business proposition they should be
given to understand that in all justice
and equity these cables must be re-
stored, AMI that there was no situa-
ton in the whole field Of cable COM
muncations or in fact in the consid
GRAFTON of the resumption OF our
trade relations with Germany, which
demands more urgent and torceful at
tcntinn.
Praises American Companies.
Mr.. Mackey testified! further. that
while England was the center Of the