File No. 811.74/133
The Acting Secretary of State to the French Ambassador ( Jusserand )
Excellency: Referring to your note of June 19, 1917, in which you make certain suggestions for providing a safe way of maintaining wireless communication between France and the United States, and to the Department’s reply No. 1876, of June 30,1 stating that the substance thereof had been communicated to the Secretary of the Navy, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that a reply has been received from the Secretary of the Navy, from which it appears that during the present war his Department is prepared to take up regular communication through the Sayville or Tuckerton station, and such high-power station in France as may be designated, and that arrangements have been completed for the exchange of official communications, which could be extended to include commercial traffic in case of need. The Secretary of the Navy states that his Department is in favor of regular direct commercial radio communication with France in times of peace but unless Congress acts favorably [Page 838] on H. R. Document No. 2573,1 a copy of which is transmitted herewith for your information,2 his Department will not be in a position to insure this commercial communication when peace arrives. It is probable, however, that the bill named will be taken up with other general legislation later in this calendar year.
The Secretary of the Navy states further that should the necessary legislation be obtained, his Department would gladly make full arrangements with the French authorities in advance of the conclusion of peace, for the handling of commercial traffic, either through a station erected and operated by the French Government or through one operated by a private concern under its direct control, which commercial communication can be so arranged as not to interfere with the official dispatches of the Naval Communication Service.
The Secretary of the Navy states in conclusion that under the present laws, his Department could make no objection to the erection or use of a privately owned radio station anywhere in the United States, except in the immediate vicinities of certain specified Government stations, for communication with a Government or privately owned station in France; and that his Department would not be able to insure the maximum freedom from interference for the proposed international communication.
Accept [etc.]