811.7451/1
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to
the Secretary of State
Paris, November 24,
1920.
[Received December 9.]
No. 1833
Sir: With reference to previous correspondence
concerning the reciprocal rights of the United States for the use of the
Lafayette Radio Station at Croix d’Hins, France, I have the honor to
enclose, in copy and translation, a Note dated November 22, 1920, from
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
This communication is in reply to informal representations made by the
Embassy, at the suggestion of the Naval Attaché, that the French
Government should authorize certain of its delegates to the Preliminary
Communications Conference47 to discuss
a reciprocity clause with the competent American authority.
I have [etc.]
[Page 958]
[Enclosure—Translation49]
The French Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Leygues) to the American
Ambassador (Wallace)
Paris, November 22,
1920.
Mr. Ambassador: You have been good enough
to remind me recently of a communication from your Embassy, dated
December 8, 1919, relative to the use by the United States of the
Lafayette radio station for American official and commercial
telegraphic correspondence.
This question, which has been examined with the greatest attention by
the French Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, gives rise to the
following observations:
- 1.
- The building of the Lafayette station was decided upon in
1917 by the American High Command in France as a war
measure. Following the Armistice of November 11, 1918, the
Lafayette station was turned over to the French Government.
By the terms of the agreement of February 11, 1919,50 this Government was charged with
all the expenses incurred by the United States for the
construction of the station.
- 2.
- Radio communication is provided for in the United States
by stations belonging to private companies. This condition
has no exception save for the Navy station at Annapolis. But
when this station discontinues the commercial traffic which
it provisionally assures with the Doua (Lyon) station, the
Lafayette station will no longer be able to communicate to
the United States for commercial telegrams except through
private stations.
- 3.
- In normal times telegrams of foreign states are subject to
the regular rates on telegrams; the Administration is not
able to make an exception to this rule.
Under reservation of the preceding observations, the French
Administration is entirely willing to transmit, under ordinary
conditions, the official telegrams of the United States and of
France via Lafayette and Annapolis or to receive them from
Annapolis, when the Lafayette station is placed in operation. The
Government of the United States has only to make known definitely
its desire; it does not seem necessary to add a clause to that
effect in the contract which was entered into between the two
Governments on February 11, 1919.
Please accept [etc.]
For the Minister and by authorization:
Maurice Herbette
The Minister Plenipotentiary
