Evening star., 1935-05-19

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Atlantic that r. c. A.. through Pr,
the plan to build a television stat
But even beyond these disclosures, it
now has been made known that An
drew w. Cruise, one of the Commerce
Departments young officials, sailed
for Europe May 10 to investigate visual
radio abroad His sailing orders read,
ITO get first-hand information on tele-
vision developments in England, France
and Germany and to study these de-
velopments, in order to present them
to American industry"
Mr.. Cruise, who is chief of the de-
partment's electrical division and a
radio and communications expert, will
tour three countries for more than
month to inspect the work they are
doing in the newest of the radio sci
ences. In both England and Germany
regular televiSion broadcaSting Sched-
ules are maintained under government
auspices, having been started within
the last three months. 1t marks the
first time that the Federal Govern
ment has detailed one of its officials
on such a mission.
This combination of facts and cir
cumstances unquestionably had some
thing to do with Mr.. Sarnoff's an
nouncement. He emphasized in his
statement that America is far ahead
of Europe in television experimental
ton and implied that the European
methods are antiquated as compared
with those his company has devel-
oped. But with the European coun-
tries showing their television in the
open, the determination finally was
reached that America must do the
same.
1t is evident that the Nice confer
ence was called secretly and that the
intention was not to reveal what
transpired On high authority, how
ever, it was learned that for two days
radio scnentists and representatives
of radio organizations of most of the
European countries, along with motion
picture emissaries and observers from
certain American radio groups, at
tended this unprecedented conference.
1t was the first time since the advent
of visual radio a decade ago that it
had become the subject OF an inter-
national conclave.
A sharp conflict between motion pic
ture and radio interests over which in
dustry should be responsible for the
development of television erupted dur
ing the sessions. Mutual nurturing of
this radio infant finally was agreed to.
The conference adopted a report in
which it was held that television is
still in its preliminary stages, even in
the transmission of images by motion
picture film, and that transmission Of
live" pictures-those picked up at the
scene, such as parades, sporting
events and the hke-is not yet tech
nically practicable.
The conference decided to create
committee of representatives of the
motion picture industry international
Cinematographic Institute) and of
the International Broadcasting Union,
the European trade association repre-
senting broadcasters, along with rep
resentatives of the League of Nations.
The committee would observe the
progress of television and endeavor to
promote cooperation with other inter-
national groups. Plans were made to
gather all available data on television
and it was agreed that an Office should
be established in Rome as the inter-
national clearing house for visual radio
information. There was tacit un-
derstanding that there would be close
cooperation between motion picture
and broadcasting groups in the devel-
opment.
The conference, it appears, was
suggested by the film rather than the
radio group. 1t was clear that the
motion picture industry abroad, or
at least segment of it, feels that
it should be in on the ground floor,
lest it eventually be superseded by
television. The attitude was that def
mite agreements should be reached
between the broadcasting and motion
picture industries on this potential
radio offshoot.
Many factors regarding possible
competition between the movies and
television came into the discussion.
The more conservative of the motion
picture people in Europe expressed
the view that there is no immediate
cause of concern over television since
1t has not reached practical stage.
Moreover, they pointed to its great
expense as a medium Of public en-
tertainment. They found some solace
also in the fact that color movies are
coming In vogue, whereas the best
held out for television is "black-and-
white" transmission.
Conversely, there was the school of
thought favoring working arrange
ment because the motion picture the
aters some day may wish to exhibit
on their screens televiSed programs
of actual scenes, or visual radio
reels" They finally succeeded in pro-
curing the agreement that in the
early stages. in any event, there
should be this cooperative develop
ment.
THE English language seems des-
l. tined to become as near universal
as any tongue possibly could become,
now that untold millions hear it
spoken day after day all over the
world by means of riado. With Eng
lish words occupying dominant place
in the ether, the suggestion now is
offered that the language be re-
vamped 50 that spelling will be based
more nearly on sound.
While worldwide language prob
ably never will exist, at least there
is hope for tongue that can be un-
derstood by a good share of the peo-
piles of the earth. That condition
prevailing, the radio may even save
the Kings language from a slow
death, says Prof. A. Lloyd James,
eminent British Hnguist, whose book,
'The Broadcast World has just been
published in London.
The main problem, he says, Is to
revamp the language on a phonetic
basis, since its progress through the
centuries has been handicapped by
spelling, which is the despair OF in
telligent foreigners who strive to mas
ter it. AS a matter of fact, as the
professor indicates, a good portion
of intelligent English and American
<orl- ,.ouar ctor tI1iS SUctepn Of SnRll-