572.F1/224
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Harrison)
Sir: During the International Radio Conference held in Washington from October 4 to November 25, 1927,86 a Special Committee was organized to consider what action should be taken with respect to the report drawn up at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in 1926, by the “Committee for the Study of Code Language”, provided for by the International Telegraph Conference held at Paris in 1925.87
At its fourth plenary session the International Radio Conference adopted the following resolution:
- “1. The Washington Conference is not qualified to deal with the question of code language previously studied by the Committee of Cortina d’Ampezzo;
- “2. In view of the provisions of Article 15 of the International Telegraph Convention of St. Petersburg88 and the reservation formulated by some telegraph administrations not represented at Washington, the Committee constituted by the Radiotelegraph Conference can not transform itself into an International Telegraph Conference to deal with the question of code language.
“Because the solution to be given to the proposals of the Cortina Committee is of an urgent character, the recommendation is expressed that the next International Telegraph Conference, which is to meet at Brussels in 1930, be advanced in accordance with the rules of Paragraph 88 of the International Telegraph Regulations (Paris, 1925),89 and be held in 1928, it being understood that only the question of code language shall be treated there.”
As the French Government is charged with the handling of matters relating to the International Telegraph Union this Government advised the French Government of the action taken on the subject at the Washington Conference and the French Government, through the International Bureau of the Telegraph Union at Berne, requested members of the Union to advise the French Government and the International Bureau whether they desired that the Brussels Conference be advanced from 1930 to 1928.
The American Minister at Berne reported on April 23, 1928,91 that he had been advised by the International Bureau that the necessary ten countries had requested that the Brussels Conference be held in 1928. The Minister at Berne further stated, on April 28, 1928,91 that it was believed that the Conference at Brussels would be convened in September or October next.
The Ambassador of Belgium at this Capital, in a note dated July 18, 1928,91 stated that the Conference would be held at Brussels beginning September 10, 1928, and on behalf of his Government extended an invitation to this Government to send representatives to the Conference.
As the Conference to be held at Brussels will consider the report of the Special Committee drawn up at Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1926, dealing with the question of the use of code language and the related question of the rates to be charged in connection with the use of code language, American concerns engaged in export and import business will be seriously affected by the results of the Conference. This is particularly true since some of the proposals involve the raising of rates for the handling of telegrams. It was believed, therefore, that it would be highly desirable for the United States to participate in the Conference and, accordingly, the invitation issued by the Belgian Government was accepted.91
The Department recommended to the President that the American delegation consist of yourself as chairman, Mr. John Goldhammer, vice president of the Commercial Cable Company, and Mr. Charles Henry Shedd, Department Manager for Swift and Company, Chicago.91 The President replied on July 26, 1928,91 and stated that he approved the appointment of the persons named as the American representatives to the Brussels Conference.
It is expected that the other representatives will be accompanied by Mr. William B. Vallance, of this Department, Lieutenant E. M. Webster, United States Coast Guard, Major William F. Friedman, War Department and Mr. Harry F. Coulter, Department of Commerce, as technical advisors, Mr. Fernand L. J. Dumont as translator [Page 457] and possibly four clerical assistants. The delegation probably will sail from New York on August 25, 1928, and should arrive in Brussels in sufficient time to confer with you before the Conference is convened.
You are instructed to proceed to Brussels and you should arrange the departure from your post so that you may arrive at Brussels not later than September 8, 1928. You will, of course, be allowed your transportation expenses and subsistence at the rate of fifteen dollars per day for the time that you are away from your post in connection with this Conference.
For your information the Department encloses a copy of Documents of the Committee on the Study of Code Language; a translation of the final report of that Committee; a copy of a report by Major William F. Friedman entitled “Report on the history of the use of Codes and Code Language, the International Telegraph Regulations pertaining thereto, and the bearing of this history on the Cortina Report”; a copy of the Stenographic Report of the Hearing on July 25, 1928, regarding the Cortina report and a copy of a letter dated June 29, 1928, and a questionnaire which was sent to a number of the large users of the telegraph, cable and radio communication facilities.92 The report of the Cortina Committee constitutes the agenda for the Conference.
Specific instructions to govern the American delegation at the Conference will be prepared and sent to you as soon as possible.
I am [etc.]
- For radiotelegraph convention, see Foreign Relations, 1927, vol. i, p. 288. For proceedings of the conference, see S. Ex. Doc. B, 70th Cong., 1st sess., p. 77.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1925, vol. i, pp. 287 ff.↩
- Signed July 10/22, 1875; League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. lvii, p. 213.↩
- ibid., p. 201.↩
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- Enclosures not printed.↩