811.7441/21
The British Chargé (Chilton) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 10.]
Sir: With reference to your note of July 1st, and to previous correspondence concerning the proposed reciprocal arrangement between the United States Government and His Majesty’s Government for preventing interference by ships with wireless broadcasting,99 I have the honour, under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to inform you that it has been duly noted that the United States regulations do not now require American ships to be equipped for using the 300 metres wave and that it would seem clear, therefore, that the suggestion in your note under reference for the use of the wave on American ships to be permitted regionally in British waters was merely put forward by the United States Government with a view to meeting what was understood to be the views of His Majesty’s Government. I am to point [Page 274] out that the 300 metre wave is used principally in European waters by fishing vessels and other small craft, and it would be impracticable satisfactorily to define the areas in which the wave might be employed. As its use even by such ships may in the near future be abolished, His Majesty’s Government are of opinion that it is now unnecessary to qualify the prohibition in regard to United States ships in British waters.
His Majesty’s Government are in agreement with the opinion expressed in the penultimate paragraph of Mr. Hughes’ note on the subject of December 9th last1 to the effect that the proposed reciprocal arrangement can be concluded by an exchange of notes, and I am accordingly authorized to inform you that subject to any modifications which may be agreed to internationally at the next International Conference on Radiotelegraphy, ships registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland will, from October 1st next, be prohibited from using the waves of three hundred and four hundred and fifty metres within two hundred and fifty miles of the coasts of the United States on condition that United States ships will, from October 1st next, be similarly prohibited from using those waves within two hundred and fifty miles of the coasts of the United Kingdom.
In regard to the conclusion of a similar arrangement between Canada and Newfoundland on the one hand, and the United States on the other, I have the honour to inform you that I am awaiting separate instructions which Mr. Secretary Chamberlain has promised to furnish me with at an early date, and on receipt of which I shall not fail to communicate with you in the matter forthwith.
I have [etc.]