811.7448A Amateur/1
The Minister in South Africa ( Totten ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 23.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s Instruction No. 168 of January 19, 1934 (File No. 811.7400 Amateur [811.7448A Amateur/1])29 setting forth the terms of a proposed exchange of notes between the United States and the Union of South Africa to provide for the transmission of messages by amateur radio stations on behalf of third parties.
I am now in receipt of a communication from the Department of External Affairs of the Union Government stating that whilst the Union Government recognizes the important part which amateur wireless experimenters have played in the development of the science of radio, it is averse to departing from the principle laid down in Article 8 § 2 (1) of the General Radio Communications Regulations annexed to the International Convention of Madrid, 1932, which provides that the licensees of amateur stations are absolutely forbidden to transmit international communications on behalf of third parties.
The interested officials of the Union Government are of the opinion that the transmission of international messages on behalf of third parties by radio amateurs would be of no real benefit to the latter, especially in view of the prohibition against making any charge, either direct or indirect, for such messages.
In view of the Union Government’s attitude, it is thought best to make no further representations in the matter unless instructions to that effect are received from the Department.
Respectfully yours,