Tt has been riy privilege to be associated with Mr. Howard,, and with Mr. Karl A. Bickel, the resident of the United Press, in this effort for a lower press rate-~ 1 vote within the reasonable power of newspapers in' Japan and the United to pay—for many years. The history of the negotiations place here. Suffice it to that the lion's shave of the credit, after clu credit is given the American and Japanese communica ations concerns, belongs to Mr. Howard and the organizations he Feptesents, and to the many hardworking members of this Institute Who have devoted their time and efforts to the welfare fo the press.
T think it may not be too much to hope that as time goos by and telegraphic communications are improved we may expect still lower rates, on a full parity with those already prevailing in the Atlantic ocean, where, I under- A: Stand it, press rates are in operation as low as three cents gold, or about six Japanese sen per word.
I think this Conference must bear in mind, "however, that we have taken only one step in the Jong journey we have before us it we are to encourage a really efficient interchange of news between the nations of the Orient themselves, and these nations and the other countries. of the world.
Ministry of Communications for a reduction of the rate on press telegrams from Japan to London and other principal European centres, by one half, as has deen done between Japan and the United States.
Our chief means of fast cémmunication with Europe is the Great Northern Telegraph Company, which has a cable from Nagasaki through Shanghai and north China across " Siberia to London. This company, as I understand it, fs a joint Danish and British concern and works in_close ce-operation with the Eastern Telegraph Company, which operates cables from Shanghai through Hongkong, Singapore and India to London. The Eastern Telegraph Company, I believe, is an all British concern, For news: from London via her Eastern or Northern, or by radio, we now have to pay' 34 sen per word, European newspapers must pay a similar rate for nows from Japan. Our Ministry of Communications has offered to, ent this rate word. 'So far these companies have' not accepted the proposal. I|rate which would enable us to think it might be a wise thing for this Conference to go on recor urging them to do so in the general interest of international welfare and understanding.
A Desirable End There can be no question but that a full and free interchange of telegraphic news between nations is highly desireable, from every point This cin best be obsd through the operation of a free and independent press, which reflects honestly and accurately the public opinion of the country in which. it is published. But the press, like every other business enterprise, must operate on sound economic ' principles, and it cannot. buy news in the volume it desires unless the price is within its power to pay. That is why we have urged lower rates. Wo are quite willing to spend all the money we Jean afford to, but we feel the best interests of every country will be served if we can got a maximum volume of news for our expenditure.
To tun to the Considering Japar have still te consi Pacific area: centre we of telegraphic conn China, Hawaii, the ines, French Indo-China, Australasia, the Dutch Indies, Malaysia, Siam ' and India, We feel that existing press rates between any of theso> points and Japan, or between any of the chief cities of these areas, should be reduced by at least one half—; as they have been reduced be-|~ States. tween Japan and
For example the minimum press rate for radiograms from Japan to Manila is 26 sen, compared to 18 sen between Japan' andi the United States (San Francisco).
The same high rates prevail between Japan and Australis, Hongkong, Singapore, Saigon, the Dutch Indies, and India, from southern the Dutch Indies, ete,,' now practically all come to Japan vid London. We feel they should come direct,. from, points of origin, and that' communications Jand press rates should be low enough that we could afford to get them direct, and in a large and steady volume. I would earnestly urge that every member of this Institute "give this problem his earnest consideration. and use his influence to the end we desire, study of the map will show the extent of the programme we must eavisage—a programme Which will make for a rapid. and comprehensive. flow of telegraphic information daily between all Teading centres,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.