Evening star., 1937-03-28
FEDERALRADIOPLANNED
TO PROMOTE us. GOODS
Five Short.Wave Channels Set Aside
for Contemplated Broadcasts
to Other Countries.
vNcLE SAM. international ST

Y YNCLE SAM. international su-
per-salesman, will be extolling
the merits of American prod
~ ucts via short-wave radio to
nreside listeners in the homes OF the
world, if those high in Federal circles
have their way.
In competition with governmental
short-wave stations In Great Britain,
Germany. France, Italy. Russia and
other countries, our Government soon
may be singing into the ether for for
eign consumption the praises Of Amer
ican automobiles, airplanes, machinery,
steel and Boston baked beans, not to
mention unplowed pigs and prunes.
The Federal Communications Com
mission already has set aside, under
international agreement, five Short
wave radio channels necessary for
such internatio broadcasts. Al
though one OF these channels has been
loaned temporarily for commercial
use, all five are being reserved until
the fate of the proposed international
program has been settled.
OCtC4OplIlCllt VI AOA S16AA AA@A ASNo AoA
American goods is a primary policy OF
President Roosevelt and Secretary Of
State Hull. The proposed international
broadcasting program, known to be re-
garded favorably by the administra-
ton, would serve to keep before the
world the latest developments In
American science and industry. Such
broadcasts would support strongly the
bid for the highly competitive foreign
markets, especially those OF South
America.
News Broadcasts Expected.
The form which the broadcasts
would take has not been determined;
1t is likely, however, they may be news
broadcasts similar to those employed
by European countries for the same
purpose.
OF course, there would be no blatant
propaganda. There would. rather, be
pleasantly coated little pills Of pro-
motional value popped into the listen
ers by some sort of an international
Boake Carter, between snatches Of
stimulating news and choice enter
tainment.
The British Broadcasting Co.. gov
ernmentally controlled, does this sort
of thing very well. Its propaganda Is
most subtle and the average Britisher
probably would resent the suggestion
there is any propaganda at all. Never
theless, on the smoothly flowing
stream Of news of things British there
appear occasional floating chips Of in
formation about British export goods,
such as new airplanes, set adrift in
the hope they will land where they
will do the most good. The broadcasts
are credited with having had . bene-
ficial effect on British foreign trade.
The French governmentally spon-
sored broadcasts are not 30 subtle as
the British, while the Germans, the
Russians and the italians ladle out
their merchandising propaganda in
large and very obvious chunks.
Bill introduced in House.
The chief obstacle In the way Of
such q national broadcasting program
in this country is that there is no
Federal set-up for such purpose. To
overcome this difficulty, Representa-
tive Emanuel Celler of New York has
introduced in the House a bill to au-
thorize the Navy to construct q short
wave broadcasting station In or near
Washington to broadcast programs
sponsored by the United States COM
missioner of education. The measure
authorizes an appropriation Of $3.50, 900
for programs and 100000 for opera
ton and maintenance Of the station.
The Celler bill provides that the pro-
grams shall be directed especially at
the South American nations and that