27

F.—B

Sub-enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 59. Propositions for discussion at the International Telegraph Conference, Lisbon, 1908. 1. Counting of Code-words, pronounceable Combinations, dec. Delete the last sentence of section 4of Article VIII of the regulations, as follows : " Nevertheless those which may be formed by the union of two or more words in plain language contrary to the usage of the language are not admitted." This regulation has given rise to more disputes at the counters of the associated companies and to more correspondence than any other regulation of the Convention. The associated companies agree with the view taken by the public that they can see no logical reason why, if the Telegraph Administration and companies are prepared to accept " ababababab," they will not accept " canyoucome," or "buyonenow." The rule is also against the financial interests of all telegraph Administrations, as a firm would often send their messages in plain language, to save the time occupied in coding and decoding the message, if the rules permitted the telegram being written in plain language and divided up into pronounceable combinations for purposes of taxation. 2. Deviated Traffic. Delete the following words from the first paragraph of section 2 of Article XLII : "if they are presented at the office which has to retransmit them within a maximum period of twenty-four hours following the notification of the interruption"; and substitute the following: "if there is available a route, or routes, which has signified its willingness to accept deviated traffic at lower tariff than its normal rates, eitEer for the first period of twenty-four hours' interruption, or for the whole term of the interruption of the normal interrupted route." Article LXXVI, section 5: Delete second paragraph, and substitute following: — " In the case of traffic originating in or destined for countries situated outside Europe, telegrams can be transmitted by a more expensive route if special arrangements have been made as shown in Table C, under the conditions stated in Article XLII, section 2." General Remarks. The alteration made at the London Conference, permitting extra-European telegrams to be diverted by a dearer route in case of interruption of a normal route, has given rise to misunderstanding and correspondence between the Administrations affected. The chief points raised have been, — (a.) The right of the terminal Administration to deviate. (b.) Should all transmitting Administrations share in the pro rata reduction, or only those who abnormally transmit the telegrams? (c.) Cases have arisen in which a transmitting Administration has received a higher proportion on a diverted message than it would have done if it had gone by its normal route. If only certain routes are open at reduced rates for interrupted traffic, whether for the whole period of interruption or for the first twenty-four hours, it would obviate all these difficulties. The different routes available, together with the tariffs applicable, could be arranged at the Lisbon Conference. 3. Signalling Remarks in Preamble. Insert new Article LV, making following Articles LVI, Ac. : — " LV. All special indications in the foregoing Articles XLVIII to LIV are transmitted in the preamble, as well as in the address of the message." This suggestion is to safeguard the transmission of the necessary instructions. Jf., Acknowledgment of Receipt. Article LXXVI, section 2, second paragraph, second line of first exception : Add, after " prepaid replies," " and acknowledgments of receipt." And in the second exception add, after " prepaid replies," " and acknowdedgments of receipt." Note.—Acknowledgments of receipt are exactly the same kind of message as prepaid replies, and should therefore be treated in the accounts in the same manner. 5. Routes to be followed. Article XLI. Additional section 6. It is understood that in agreeing to concise directions for the indication of routes, the system of every Administration or company shall be treated as a whole, and that the sender has no power of directing his message by any particular line or cable belonging to any Administration. 6. Retransmitted Telegrams. Private telegrams which—without the consent of the interested Administrations and solely in order to avoid paying the normal rates fixed between two. countries —are addressed to an intermediate station and retransmitted-by telegraph to their real destination, shall be refused by the Administrations taking part in their transmission. In doubtful cases the sender or the addressee will have to prove that such retransmission has not been intended.