Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-13
MEXICO RAT|F|ES
TREATY ON RADIO
Cuba Only Major North Amer
lean Country Which Has
Failed to Agree.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

has found time to ratify the results of
the International Acknowledgment Con-
vention, and has just deposited the
necessary diplomatic documents with
the American State Department. EX-
cept for Cuba this completes the ratitl-
cations of the major North American
countries. The United States and Can
ada were the first to proclaim their
adherence, both taking action last Oc-
tober.
With Mexico's credentials in its
archives, the State Department now
has the record of adherence of 20 OF
the nations which participated in the
1927 Washington parley and formulated
the important treaty governing the in
ternational use of radio. Conspicuous
among the countries falling to act on
the radio treaty are all the Central and
South American republics.
The likelihood of interference between
the radio services of the countries IN
North and South America is remote, for
the Equatorial belt is a natural state
barrier through which their respective
signals seldom penetrate with appreci-
able interfering results. Nevertheless, IT
is desirable that all the countries OF
the Western hemisphere cooperate in
preserving orderly radio for their mu-
tual benefit.
Brazil Extends Radio.
The importance of the treaty to the
Latin American countries is emphasized
by the rapid expansion of all forms OF
radio in Central and South America.
Brazil, for example, has authorized the
establishment of many new short-Wave
stations for overland, ship and aircraft
services. Transatlantic radio-telephone
communication between Buenos Aires
and Europe was effected last January.
Sweden has just arranged for telephone
service with Argentina by cable to Ber-
lin and thence by radio to Buenos Aires.
In addition the American Telephone
& Telegraph Co. is now building radio
transmitter in New Jersey for telephone
conversations from any city of the
United States and Canada with per-
sons in the larger cities of South Amer
lea. A similar service is also proposed
by the Mackay radio interests.
The treaty defines the portions of the
radio spectrum that shall be used for
the various types of service, setting aside
the wave lengths that may be used
jointly and exclusively for ship, air
craft, tranSoceanic and inland code and
for such other services as program
broadcasting, television, amateur opera
tons and experimentation. Nearly all
of the radio-using countries of the world
were represented at the Washington
conference which drew It up.
Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of
Commerce, was chairman of the Ameri-
can delegation, and presided over the
plenary session by unanimous election
Of the delegates.
Russia Abides by Treaty.
Russia, unlimited to participate, is
understood to be adhering voluntarily
to the general requirements of the
treaty. The fast-developing Russian ra-
dio system is reported to be causing
little or no interference with the radio
systems of other Continental European
countries. American radio observers say
they have experienced no interference
at all from the Russian stations that are
using the long-distance short waves.
Germany and France, whose delegates
| played leading part in the Washing
ton conference, are not among the rati-
| flying countries, for reasons unknown.
| Their radio administrations are said to
be adhering to the terms of the treaty,
however. The other countries which
have deposited their ratifications with
the State Department are Netherlands,
OutC4I Gdot 4IlOlSS, 0uIIIldfIl, curacao,
Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Belgian
Congo, Great Britain, British India,
Irish Free State, Italy, Finland, Japan,
Spain, Portugal, Spanish Guinea, Union
of South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand,
Hungary Sweden. Czechoslovakia, Syro-
Libanese Territories, Esthonia and Aus
tralia.
The State Department announces that
it has received Geographic advices from
William D. Terrell, radio chief of the
Department of Commerce, who handled
the American delegation at the Euro
pean broadcasting parley at Prague,
that he has just left for London to rep
resent this country's radio interests at
the Safety of Life at Sea Conference,
opening in London next Tuesday. He
was accompanied by Gerald c. Gross,
staff engineer of the Federal Radio
Commission and also a delegate to
Prague.
Representative Wallace White of
Maine, chairman of the American dele
cation of diplomats, naval officers, Ship
ping men and technical experts, sailed
for London with the delegation on the
steamship America April 3.
Copyright. 1929, by North American News
pauer Alliance