§ Major ARCHER-SHEEasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether his attention has been directed to the interception of a wireless telegram from Mr. Bruce Ismay, on board the "Carpathia," by the United States cruiser "Chester," and the communication of the con- 976 tents of this telegram to Washington; and whether, in view of his statement in support of the refusal to lay the State-owned Atlantic cable, that the Government were entering into an agreement to erect wireless stations communicating with Australia and New Zealand, he will say what action he proposes to take to secure the secrecy of telegraphic communication viâ these wireless stations; and (2) whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence of Mr. Ismay, given in Washington, that he had sent a wireless telegram to Mr. Franklin on 15th April, which was not received until Wednesday, 17th April; and whether, in view of the confusion arising by the dispatch of large numbers of wireless messages at the same time, the Government will take this into consideration when considering the question of a State-owned Atlantic cable, in view of the necessity for rapidity and secrecy of communication between Governments of the Empire?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am aware that some confusion arose in connection with the transmission of radio-telegrams from ships to wireless coast stations in Canada and the United States respecting the "Titanic" disaster. There is, however, no reason to suppose that difficulties of the kind will be experienced in the transmission of long-distance wireless telegrams with a wave-length specially reserved for them under a properly regulated system, and adequate steps will be taken to secure the prompt transmission of telegrams sent by the proposed Imperial wireless system. At present the secrecy of wireless telegrams is mainly dependent on the use of cypher or code.
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEIs it not a fact that the first wireless station will be at Cyprus; and as the line passes over two countries of the Triple Alliance, in the event of war, or even the likelihood of war, will it not be the case that, in all probability, the powerful wireless stations on the Continent will interfere very considerably with our long distance wireless telegrams?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThat is rather a matter for argument in Debate.