HC Deb 27 April 1926 vol 194 cc1841-2
60. Sir A. SINCLAIR

asked the Postmaster-General whether His Majesty's Government refused to conduct experiments in wireless telephony with either Australia or Canada on account of their commitments in the United States of America; and, if so, whether he will explain the nature of these commitments and how long they will last?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir William Mitchell-Thomson)

No, Sir. The only reason why the experiments have so far been confined to the United States is that the United States is the only country equipped with suitable transmitting and receiving apparatus for the purpose of reciprocal experiments. The Government are under no obligations to the United States which would preclude their undertaking experiments with Canada or Australia in the event of stations equipped for the purpose being provided in those Dominions.

Sir A. SINCLAIR

Is it a fact that the Australians and Canadians have asked the Post Office to conduct these experiments with those countries, and that the Post Office have refused?

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

That is far from being the fact, and that request could not in fact have been made, because, as I have stated in my answer, there are no stations in Canada or Australia capable of conducting such experiments.