RECIPROCAL COMMUNICATION PRIVILEGES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP57-00384R000100100015-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2001
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: February 1, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

OW HAS REVIEWED.
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119111MATIM
Assistant Director, Communications
General Counsel
Reciprocal communications privileges
1 February 1952
I. your memorandums of 7 December to me and of 6 December
25X1A to the Deputy Director present a situation which, with Mr.
permission, I discussed with Mr. Paul Barringer,
Aeting Director, Office of Transport and Communications Policy
of the Department of State. Mr. Barringer, while not a techni-
cian in the communicatios field, is fully familiar with the ad-
ministrative, pelitical and policy problems. He was most cordial
and frank About the position of the Department ir this field,
and I believe his suggestions are helpful.
2. As you know only too well, the practical problem revolves
around availability of frequencies. I gathered from Mr. Barringer
that he would either tacitly or actively support any attempt by
this Agency to adhievy a position of such priority in the alloca-
tion of frequencies that we could requisition present duplicates.,
stand-bysor surplus: frequencies being retained by other agencies,
public or private. The question of such priorities would, of **roes
end up in the White Aouee, and I gathered Mr. Barringer is not
optimistic about positive and early action at that level.
3. If we have our frequencies and know in What countries we
wish to place our stations, we then come face to face with the
technical problem of reciprocal rights. The definitive decision
on the Communications Act of 1934 was given by the Legal Advisor
for the State Department in 1941, and there seems little likeli-
hood that it can be reversed. In effect, it eve that there is
ro way by Which a foreign government can be licensed for trans-
mission from this country and that it may not operate stations
without a licensee.
4. Mr. Barringer agrees with you that maw countries will
insist on reciprocal rights whether they intend to use them or
not. We are, therefore, at an impasse unless alternatives to
reciprocity are found, or the Act can be surmounted. For alter-
natives in foreign countries which may be suitable for your
purposes, the U. S. Government has strong leverages which may be
used to get communication rights without reciprocating in the same
manner. Perhaps skillful negotiations by ourselves, State and
other agencies, using econimical and political leverages, can
achieve our end. If not, and reciprocity is the only answer, it
is theoretically possible for State to negotiate a bilateral treaty
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3FciiRITY INFORMATION'
which if approved by the Senate becomes the law of the land
surmounting the prohibitions of the statute. Such a move in
the Senate would be far easier than the Almost impossible Job
of amending the Act.
S. The State Department legal opinion pointed out that
there is no criminal proceeding that could be brought for
violation of the Act, but Mt. Barringer points out that never-
theless actiori would have to be taken to prevent use of an
illegal situation, he two exce tions that are known are
basis forwar-time purposes, and which
apparently is allowed to exist on paper as it never has been
in use.
6. Please let US know if there is anything further you
would like us to examine in this respect.
Rta
Distributions
Orig. & 1A Addressee
00C
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