ARRL DX Century Club (Countries List Policy) — 1959 Edition

ARRL DX Century Club (Countries List Policy) — 1959 Edition

Countries List Policy

QST — July 1959, pp. 84–85

Occasionally ARRL gets letters expressing the wishful thought that the ARRL Countries List be frozen: no additions and no deletions, or any changes in the future. Then again, wishful thinkers during the tougher side of the sunspot cycle and at other times often suggest island areas that ought, in their opinion, to be raised to the status of countries in Operating Aid No. 7. This official “countries list” is issued in revised form annually as well as given in each Handbook. As for a list with never a change it must be said that the changing political and geographical facts of life always have to be taken into account. The political framework of the world is subject to change. If there were no changes there might be some momentary realism but a list soon out of date would soon be subject to ridicule as to listing both obsolete and unrealistic. On the other hand, there is of course no justification for raising Long Island or Catalina Island or comparable territory having no pronounced geographical separation and no autonomy from a parent nation to countries-list status.

On the surface it might appear a simple matter to act at once on every proposed new country. Without any pretense that our list is perfect, it is well built on specified policies for the most part and the fact remains that we must have a reference list to follow for all comers. Let us make it clear that such changes as have to be made are not for the sake of change but for good reason. In today’s scheme of things, the League rests the case for a given country decision on three standing criteria, once the facts applicable have been obtained in necessary detail from competent political and geographical authorities. Sometimes, in cases of political dispute between countries (the things go on for years), we have been obliged to turn to the U.S. Department of State as well as the world’s recognized geographical societies and authorities to secure their information.

The criteria that determine country status and also any precedents in the ARRL List are given careful examination with respect to each case. In the ARRL Countries List, the aspects examined as having importance are: (1) the degree of political-administrative independence, (2) the geographical separation, and (3) if the given areas have foreign land between. Many details have to be weighed, so there is an advisory staff-group of seven, all of whom hold postwar DXCC membership, incidentally, to review the maps and the case presented as new problems are posed.

Geographical separation from the mainland may serve to swing an area into place on the Countries List even when the political setup alone might not enable it to make the grade; likewise the form of government itself, degree of autonomy, representation or integration, has importance as well as geographical position. In the final analysis when a new country is added to the List or an old one taken off, there’s a good reason for the change after such matter has been considered from all angles. The referenced List is available as Operating Aid No. 7.