BRILLIANT throng of 600 people at the Park Hotel on May 19, including in its number the most prominent American and Chinese residents in Shangha addition to the Minister of Communications, General F, P, Vu, and Mr. Nelson T. Johnson, US. Ambassador to China, stood excitedly as the first radio telephone between China and the United States was inaugurated.
On this historic occasion, when yet another achievement of modern science has been made available to join the two countries across the Pacific, it was fitting that the first ladies of both China and America, Mme. Chiang Kai-shek and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, should be among the first to use the new means of communication.
The opening of the new line was heard by the guests by means of loudspeaker, being relayed from the 15th floor, where a special studio had been fitted up for the speakers.
Every word came through clearly, and excitement ran high as Mme. Chiang Kaishek was announced, followed by Mrs, Roosevelt and Mme H. H.
Kung.
"The reception room was specially decorated for the occasion with two large' globes, containing wireless masts linking them together,.sym= helical of the significant step forward in communication "between China and the United States, The American and Chinese flags. joined Secupied a conspicuous place, and sketches of the prominent, personal tes of both countries filled the walls. Nine telephone conversations took place. Between prominent personali~ {iés in Washington and In the studio at the Park Hotel, the first commercial concern to make use of the radio telephone, it is tuderstood, was the International Business Machines Corporation, 105 Wayfoong Road.
The opening of the radio telephone service was preceded by speeches by General F. P, Vu, Minister of Communications, and Mr. Nelson T. Johnson, American Ambassador 10 China, Gen, Vu said that following, the steady growth of radio telegraphic trafic across the Packie fur~ ther progress was now being realized by the use of radio-telephone, Since by this means it would be possible to communicate ideas more conveniently" than by telegraphy—there would be more intimacy, and the spoken word would be followed by the spoken answer, He fully be-Hoved that the opening of this ser-vie would tend to strengthen the valued friendship that had long ex-Isted between the two nations.
Mr, Nelson 'T. Johnson said that during the Jast two or three months ovants had proved very beneselal for the strengthening of friendly rela~ tions between the two countries. The establishment of am air service to the For Bast had taken place only a few weeks previously, and now the radio Lelephone was being added to the means of communication, The sense of hearing was the most valued sense given to mankind, The human voice had an unlimited range of possibilities, and the written word was cold when compared with the spoken, The Tadio telephone made it possible for them to use the voice for communica lon between Ching and America, and would probably contribute greatly to better understanding.
At 11 pam, the opening of the radio telephone terview was instituted by Dr, ¥. C. Pan, director-general of the depariment of telegraphs and tele rams to the Central Government, who gave American listeners a des: cription of the scene at the Park Hotel. Dr. Wang Chung-hui then conversed over the radio telephone with Mr. Cordell Huh, Secretary of State for the United States, Mr.
Hull said
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.