On account of the rival systems in use in this country and the different countries of Europe, it was decided to hold an international conference, at which rules could be formulated to control them. The conference met at Berlin in August, 1903. The following rules were adopted, applying to the exchange of messages between vessels at sea and coast stations:

Any fixed station whose field of action extends to the sea is styled a coast station.

Coast stations are bound to receive and transmit telegrams originating from or intended for vessels at sea without any distinction of wireless telegraph system used by the latter.

Contracting parties shall publish any technical information likely to facilitate or expedite communication between coast stations and ships at sea.

The wireless station must, unless it should be absolutely impossible, accept in preference requests for help that may come from vessels.

The service of wireless telegraph stations must be organized as far as practicable so as not to interfere with the service of other stations.

The protocol was signed by the United States, Germany, Austria, Spain, France and Russia. Great Britain and Italy were unable to sign. The general feeling of the conference was decidedly against monopolization of the wireless telegraph business by any one company.