Evening star., 1940-06-09
&c. {. Acts 10 Curb
Possible Radio Use
By Fifth CoIumnists'
Steps Being Token to
Revise Forms for
Operator Applications
By WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY

Concern over possible use of the
radio for fifth column" activities
in this country has moved the Fed
eral Communications Commission 70
initiate plans for blocking such ac-
tivities. It's program includes a
study of international broadcasts
beamed at foreign countries and
broadcasts from foreign stations into
the United States.
1t also was learned last night that
steps are being taken to revise the
application forms for radio operator
licenses. both commercial and anna
teur, to require definite proof of
citizenship, rather than the mere
statement to that effect required by
the present forms. Commercial
operators on shore and on ship
board, it was pointed out, are in a
position to transmit information
in code to foreign agents and there
fore there should be more definite
proof as to their citizenship claims.
Fifth columnists," it was pointed
out, would undoubtedly be willing
to swear they were citizens. Even
If they were later found to be aliens,
it is doubtful if they could be found
for indictment for perjury.
Warning Is Issued.
The commission yesterday took
another step to block possible fifth
column" communications when it
issued a sharp warning to all United
States radio operators and ship
station licensees that superfluous,
unnecessary and unidentified COM
munications from ship stations to
other ships or to shore stations will
not be tolerated, and added that
violations in this respect will be
vigorously prosecuted.
Both the general radio regulations
annexed to the International Tele-
communications Convention, adopt
ed at Madrid in 1882 and the Com
munications Act of 1884 specifically
prohibit the transmission of such
communications. Moreover, the COM
mission announced, both the inter-
national regulations and the Com
munications Act place the radio
service of a ship under the supreme
authority of the master. This was
taken as an indication that ship
masters must keep a more stringent
check on radio transmissions and re-
ceptions or suffer the penalties,
along with their radio operators, for
violations.
International broadcast stations,
licensed to broadcast to particular
countries, usually use foreign an
nouncers because of their linguist
ability. Although the broadcasting
companies check closely on such an
nouncers, the question: has been
raised as to whether veiled messages
might be sent. These broadcasts
could be checked by the commissions
monitoring stations, and it has been
suggested that recordings be made
of such broadcasts so there would
be permanent record to be check
ed by governmental agents.
Problem of Reception.
One Of the serious communica-
tions problems, which at this time
appears to be insurmountable, Is
the reception of broadcasts In this
country. from foreign stations, many
OF which are believed to contain hid
den messages to fifth columnists"
In this country. The only way of
checking this is for close observa-
ton by Federal and local authori-
ties of activities of individuals fol-
lowing such broadcasts.
Another problem is that of for
eign language broadcasts over do
mystic stations. These are per-
miN<d and it is realized that mes
sages to large groups of foreign
listeners could be carried by using
a language code, which would
mean nothing to the casual listener,
but would contain orders to those
with the code key.
In planning more thorough
check on radio operators licenses,
the F. G. c. is comparing present
application forms with application
blanks of the Bureau of Marine
Inspection and Navigation for sea-
men and officers of ships. In order
to obtain seaman's certificate the
applicant not only must certify that
he is a citizen, but must furnish
proof in the way of a birth certifi-
cate, baptismal certificate or dis
charge from the Army and Navy,
must furnish a picture to be at
tached to the records in the bureau
and to the certificate and also fin
gerprints.
It was indicated this system un-
doubtedly would be used in appli-
cations for radio operator licenses.
These licenses are for periods of
three years each, so the commits
sion soon would be able to get a
thorough check, even If it did not
call for complete relicensing in
order to obtain proofs of citizenship
In all cases.
The prohibition in the communi-
cations statute against the COM
missions censoring or in any way
interfering with programs is re-
garded now as one of the obstacles
IN Its efforts to dig into the fifth
columnist" problem. If the F. C. C.
should undertake to order a sta
ton not to have a foreign language
broadcast or to say what should be
broadcast to foreign countries, it
would undoubtedly be faced with