Evening star., 1934-08-12

reception via the short waves.
a has also stirred up a. inter
national political problem that
Il causing diplomatic ofieialdom IN
Washington no little concern.
A constantly increasing barraEe Of
political propaganda from abroad,
transmitted over European stations
In the English language, with the
obvious aim Of spreading their philoso-
pfies throughout the world. but more
particularly 10 the United States, has
given rise 10 this apprehension. Hit
iersa state con troiled German short
wave stations. which broadcast Hazi
propaganda In English on daily
schedule. appear TO be the main
source Of disturbance. although simi-
lar program schedules are maintained
by the Spanish stations and by the
Empire" stations Of Great Britain.
At all hours Of the day and night
IL In now pcssible 10 pix UP foreign
broadcaSts on "all-wave" receivers.
which literally tour the world for the
listener. In this country the all
wave set has become the fad, remi-
niscent OF the early days Of conyeu-
btDh83 DtOd1IhHbAfiks WIKI Aa1bIAANA n
sought the thrill Of picking up dis
tant domestic stations. Now the nov
city IA To get European and even more
remote statiors via the short waves
Radio State Controlled.
Unlike American broadcasting, ra-
do in almost every other major nation
Is state controlled The dietators or
administrations in independent Euro
pean countries, now hotbed Of poll
teal unrest and agitation. naturally
use their radio systems for their own
ends. There also seems 10 be q
prevalent thought that America should
know OF their political developments
and that American opinion should be
established In their favor. Conse-
quently, much OF this propaganda Is
placed on the international" sta
tions, many directed TO the United
States
whether the United States Gov
ernment plans any steps to counter
act this situation. which is destined
to become more serious as the propa-
ganda broadcasts from abroad In
crease and as more listeners equip
themselves with all-wave sets. Is
highly problematical. There appears
10 be little that can be done. Techni-
caIly. no undue interference with
American stations is caused by these
foreign outlets. for they operate on
channels assigned to them by inter
national treaty. If steps are taken,
they must be through the usual diplo-
matte channels on questions relating
60 sovereign rights. rather than upon
any technical radio grounds.
Russia Finishes Stations.
Furthermore, 1t is understood Soviet
Russia now Is finishing installation OF
several high-power short-wave sta
tions for worldwide" transmission.
Communistic propaganda, If intended,
undoubtedly would be obnoxious TO
many in this country and unquestion-
ably would create wave OF resentment.
Germany more or less leads the
way In the use Of the short waves for
propaganda purposes in the United
States. More than q year ago, when
Hitler became the German chancellor,
his minister of propaganda and en-
lightment, Joseph Goebbels, took over
control Of radio along with the press.
At first. Nazi-censored news bulletins
were placed on the great German
international stations, In English, at
weekly intervals. The pace has been
increased gradually, SO that now Ger
man short-wave stations are on the
air daily with bulletins, speeches and
declarations.
Programs Interchanged.
Before the advent of the perfected
all-wave receiver just two years ago,
radio officials throughout the world
fostered international program ex-
changes whereby European radio ad-
ministrations could exchange programs
with those on this continent, each
nation rebroadcasting features of the
others. This procedure, now more or
less commonplace, was hailed uni
versally as harbinger OF international
goodwill. Thereby, 1t was urged, the
peoples Of the Old World and the New
would become acquainted with each
other. better understanding would be
promoted.
There was no fear of propaganda
inimical 10 the welfare Of the citizens
Of the various countries because such
programs were not political. but more
OF the entertainment and educational
type, In the direct short-wave broad
casts, however. which eliminate the
use of the radio systems in this coun-
try, there Is no restraint In the char
acter Of material broadcast.
A SCIENTIFIC showdown has been
"A called on accusations that radio
is responsible for droughts and
heat waves by, in some magical way.
choking or the clouds or drying
them up with bombardments OF elec-
tricity, and the answer should be
known late this year.
To prove his claim that these con-
tentions are bunk" J. r. Poppele,
chief engineer of Station wOR, New
ark. has made arrangements with the
New Jersey College of Agriculture to
conduct practical experiments. wOR
is now installing a super-power so. .ooo-
watt tranSmitter at Carteret. N. j., to
be completed In time to begin operat-
ing December l. Many acres immedi-