Evening star., 1925-10-11

canned the universal adoption OF
radio But it developed at sea. where
all nations we've represented, and con,
sequently a more or less standard
agreement was reached at an carry
date.
While our first national laws did not
anticipate broadcasting, and later
amendments were not specific regard
ing broadCaSting, there were primary
laws governing land stations in eS-
istence prior to the time radio came
into general public use. And to say
the least, they aided in keeping the
air lanes open to traffic ana the sta-
tionS in hand, preventing bedl;tm OF
interference such as would have oc-
Cured if all had broadcast on any
wave lengths they chose.
Affects Every Listener-in.
Communication conferences now I'M
der way and scheduled for the near
future should interest, every listener
and amateur as well as all those en-
gagged in the radio industry III Is
these international and national con-
ferences which establish the regula-
tionS essential to systematic ana eHl-
cient communication. To be sure, the
International conferences have little
TO do with national broadcaStinS, but
they may have to direct or supervise
international broadcaSting and anna
teur tranSmiSSionS.
There is in session today in Paris
world conference on telegraphy. 1t
is known as the International Tele-
graph Conference, and although the
United States IS not party TO TINS
convention. the United States Senate
never having ratified it, we have
nevertheless three delegates present.
by invitation. These representatives
of the United States are Beaver W Nhlte
of Philadelphia. Wallace II. White OF
Maine and Gen. Charles Mex. Saltz-
man, United States Army. They are
sitting in with the other world dele
gates to discuss, but not to vote on,
the many phases of world wide tele-
graphic communication. One of the
questions being considered is whether.
radio should be included in this tele-
graph convention. Our delegates, II Is
felt Will protest against Such d move.
else our world radio conference Sched-
u.ed to he held in Washington next
Spring, to which the representatives
nf AZ nations have been invited, would
be almost unnecessary. This confer
euce is to revise the international
radio telegraph convention signed at
London in 1912. Obviously if the gen
eral subject of radio was included in
the present telegraphic sessions in
Paris-in which proceedings we have
no yote-and all the regulations of
universal radio communication were
formulated and adopted, there would
be little to discuss here next Spring at
the radio convention beyond purely
technical questions, of interest only TO,
radio engineers United States would
he outside the world circle, practically
alone without voice as to its desires
and preferences in radio regulat ationS
affecting tranSoceanic and ship-to-
shore meSSa ges. If these telegraph
regulations included radio. they would
probably affect international broad
casting and amateur activities to
considerable extent. None of us would
welcome such a change. However, as
we do not know how much weight the
American protest viii have, we can
only wait and see if radio is included.
Two Often Confused.
Il is hard not to confuse the two
world conVentions-the convention to
which we subscribe is the radio tele-
lraph convention. sometimes called
he London convention, which in 1912
Included some Of the old St. Peters
burgh laws promulgated to cover
wired teIe2raphy in 1873. The United
States Senate ratified it in 1913 and
his convention. In the Spring the
next radio conference meets here.
So far, only few of the larger ma
tons have accepted, but ii Is felt GER
tain the other world powers and many
of the smaller countries will soon sig
Nifty their intention of sending dele
gates Some are undoubtedly await
ing the adjournment of the telegraph
convention in Paris. The present
radio-telesrap articles include agree
ments between the contracting
parties regarding public service via
radio between ships and between ships
and shore.
The other convention-that in ses-
sion in Paris-is the telegraph con
vantion. to which we have never
agreed. 1t was originally conceived
at st. Petersburg in 1875 and amend
ed in Lisbon in 1908. 1t is often re-
ferred to as the Bern convention, be-
cause that city is the headquarters
of the international bureau which
regulates telegraphic communication.
Due to its general use. practically the
world over, our own private cable
and radio companies having offices in
other countries have TO comply with
these telegraph regulations. At pres
mt they include only one mention of
radio-that covers marine kilograms
between ships at sea and shore sta
lions Land stations did not attempt
10 communicate with each other over
any distance at the time Of the adop-
tion of these regulations. However.
il is now suggested by many Eu-
ropean governments that the whole
field of radio be included.
Combination Probable.
There is a probability that these
conventions will eventually be com
hined into one general electrical com
munication convention for the world.
And there is good reason for this.
What sort of service could the cable
and radio stations offer us If they
were not connected up with the land
wire telegraph systems? Delivery
would be DELAYED. if possible at all.
Probably the definition of telegram
will come to mean a written message
sent by electric energy over wires.
cables and through the ether. Some
part of the trip of every cable and
radiogram TODAY goes over telegraph
wires. unless the two CORRESPONDENTS
are sitting in the ca hle or radio offices
of New York or San Francisco and
London or Toxic.
In 1920 delegates from the allied
powers. during the world war. met in
Washington to formulate a plan for
d universal electric communication
union. 1t never materialized, perha ps
because the United States Government
sponsors, who were practically all
Government ownership men. went ont
of office. But II looks now as IL 1t