811.7451/2

The Secretary of the Navy ( Daniels ) to the Acting Secretary of State

DNC 12479–1072:43

Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your information in connection with the unsigned memorandum of Department of State dated 14 December, 1920,51 on the subject of reciprocal rights for the Lafayette Radio Station, a copy of a proposed agreement drawn up in a conference between Rear Admiral Bullard of this Department and Monsieur Broin and General Ferrié of the French delegation.52

Monsieur Broin of the French delegation has a copy of the proposed agreement and upon his return to France the question of its ratification by the French Department of Posts and Telegraphs will be taken up by him. Unless or until further information as to the action taken by the French Department of Posts and Telegraphs is received, it is not believed that any further steps are necessary on the part of this Government.

Please accept my thanks for the co-operation and assistance rendered by the Department of State in connection with this matter.

Respectfully,

Josephus Daniels
[Enclosure]

Draft of Proposed Agreement between the Navy Department and the French Department of Posts and Telegraphs Providing for the Reciprocal Use of the Lafayette and Annapolis Radio Stations

The following traffic agreement, so far as relates to government messages of the French and United States governments, is proposed:

(1)
The Lafayette and Annapolis radio stations will continue to be available for the transmission of State telegrams emanating from French and American officials stationed in France or in the United States as defined in Article 5 of the Convention of St. Petersburg,53 without charge to either government for the radio transmission and reception involved. Radio receiving stations in France and in the United States will be designated by the respective managements to ensure the reception of such messages transmitted by radio.
(2)
Each of the above named stations may be used for the broadcasting of State telegrams, as defined above, transmitted into the [Page 960] air and destined for vessels of the French or United States Navy as may be arranged by the administrations controlling the two stations, at the request of responsible officials of the two services.
(3)
These stations shall reserve a period of time of sufficient length to permit the handling of all official messages filed by representatives of the respective governments.
(4)
The right is reserved to suspend the provisions of this agreement in cases of national emergency.

  1. Not printed.
  2. To the Preliminary Communications Conference.
  3. I. International Telegraph Convention of St. Petersburg, 1875, etc. Translation of the text issued by the International Bureau of the Telegraph Union, Berne, May, 1930 (Government Printing Office, 1930).