The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-01-21
Recommendations
Cwashington Post

Giant strides were made during the war in methods of communication among the peoples ot the Worlo These strides ccmprehended both technical advance ments and the establishment of numerous new trans mission facilities It was to adapt these developments to the needs of and to bring order into the world teecommunications system that international con- ference on the subject held during the month of December in Bermuda. The United States the United Kingdom Canada Australia New Zealand the Union of South Africa India and Southern Rhodesia were represented The technical nature of the agreement reached has perhaps somewhat obscured it's real sig nificance in international relations. While the details of the agreement respecting rates and operation of facilities doubt of very considerable importance the fact of agreement and the spirit in which it was achieved seem more noteworthy.
 Empire preference arrangements in communication rates have long been irriant to Americans These permit messages to move between Commonwealth coun- tries at lower rates than between Commonwealth coun tries and the United States At present for example the rate from San Francisco to Australia is 59 cents word, while from Vancouver to Australia It IS only 25 cents word Communication between this country and Sarawak Borneo costs no less than S105 word for plan-language messages Under the terms of the agreement reached at Bermuda ceiling of 30 cents word would be imposed for plain-anguage messages and of 6ls cents word for press communications be- tween any point in the Commonwealth and the United States.
 The United States established radio circuit facilities during the for military purposes in such places as Australia New Zealand, India and Bermuda-with the qualification that their operation was to cease SIX months after the end of hostilties. Under the con- ference agreement would have the right to continue these at least for direct communication with this country although for the handling of transit traffic except in an emergency Furthermore. the agreement looks to the establishment of circuits in certain colonial and mandated such as Jamaica and Palestine if their governments approve.
 Chairman Paul Porter of the Federal Communica- tions Commission who served vice chairman Of the United States delegation to the conference pointed out at it's inception that this country did not view com rnunications as an in itself but the means to facilitate the legitimate objectives of great democ racies We of the United States delegation, he observed at the closing session. are gratified at the confirmation of belief that there exists complete identity of these obectves and common philosophy among all of here" And he paid deserved tribute to the British in these terms You have generously made concessions not only the technology which science given but also have consciously under taken to make it possible for communications to per form its fullest and effective functions in the days to come" Swift and easy interchange of ideas
 is an invaluable aid to international understanding Tn furtherng such interchange the teecommunicatlons conference supplied useful buttress for the peace