§ 96. Major ARCHER-SHEEasked the Postmaster-General whether the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or Newfoundland are parties to the Marconi agreement; and whether he has any further statement to make with reference to the attitude of three of these Governments to the Marconi agreement?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAs I stated in answer to a question by the hon. Member on 16th October, there has been no question of establishing at the present time a Transatlantic service as part of the State-owned Imperial Wireless System. The participation of the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland was therefore not invited or discussed. As I have also already stated, the Government of New Zealand had entered into arrangements, before the negotiations with the Marconi Company began, for the erection of a 825 station capable of communicating with Australia, a distance of about 1,100 miles. Of the two other Dominions, South Africa is, and Australia is not, participating in the contract. So far as I am aware, Australia has not yet begun the erection of a station capable of communicating with the Imperial station to be erected at Singapore, though her Government have undertaken that such a station shall be established.
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it would not be a fact, and not a mere invention, to say that four out of the five Dominions are not parties to the Marconi agreement?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThis Marconi agreement—yes, this is so.