The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-22
U. S., CANADA
FACE CLASH ON
RADIO RIGHTS
Province of Quebec DefieS
Both Governments in
Planning Station.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIBTMS
Foreign Editor, scripps- Howard
NeWSpaperg


WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-Pro-
verbal good relations between the
United States and Canada, which.
lasting for more than a century,
have become the pride of the Eng
disappearing race, are threatened
by the radio.
There is a limit to the number Of
stations which can broadcast at the
same time without blai1keting each
other SO the question of allocating
wave lengths has arisen between the
two countries, an extremely delicate
and difficult matter to adjust unless
an immense amount of patience and
good will is exercised by both sides
This attempt at adjustment be-
gan Monday at Ottawa, where
American and Canadian officials
met m the first of series of con-
ferences. The American delegation
il cludes the federal radio commits
siOners, o. H. Caldwell and E. o.
S, kes; D. H. Dellinger, bureau
n standards expert; and Command
er T. A. M. Craven, loaned by the
navy department.
Public Comes First
The Canadian government always
has shown a disposition to put the
desires of the radio public above
any purely nationalistic feeling. 1t
has held that broadcasting is not
only interstate or inter-provincial
but international, and so has been
inclined to treat the 100000 Ca
nadians and Americans as whole,
simply demanding that Canada
shall be allotted her fair share of
stations and channels.
But a new element has been in
troducec The Province of Quebec
has announced its intention to es-
tablish its own radio station. Quebec,
it Is stated, will relinquish none of
its rights to the air, regarding them
in the same light as it does the
waters of its own streams, and that
neither the opinion of the Ottawa
government nor that at Washing
ton will be regarded as binding in
any degree.
Here, it would seem, Canada Is
faced by a sort of radio rebellion
in one of her provinces, one which
may make history. Quebec raises
the issue of who owns the air. Pro-
Tossing to be fed up OH The programs
which come to her from the other
side of the border, she has an
nounced her intention ito disinfect
the air Of American jazz and propa-
ganda," and counterfeit it by putting
out program of her own.
Quebec Is Defiant
If Quebec goes ahead with its
scheme as, I am informed, it is not
unlikely, it will broadcast on a wave
length of its own choosing and at a
time of its own choosing, apparently
with the intention of breaking up
other programs scheduled at the
same time.
An unique situation thus would be
created, not only between neighbour
ing nations, but between the ma
tional government at Ottawa and
the government of enc of its own
provinces.
That feeling in Quebec is pretty
keen on the subject is indicated by
some of the neWSDaDer articles
Here is sounded a new and warn
ing note of nationalistic passion
which. hitherto, has been absent
from the negotiations. 1t comes, of
course, only from provincial, not
the national. government, but it
does show the possibility of a more
or less serious disagreement between
two countries whose relations have
been free from clouds for so long.