§ 65. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Postmaster-General whether the new Transatlantic telephone cable between this country and the United States is to be manufactured in this country or in Germany?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Lees-Smith)It is proposed to lay a telephone cable between Great Britain and the United States of America, to which His Majesty's Government will contri- 2637 buts a half-share conditionally upon the cable, when laid, proving satisfactory. The project is still in the experimental stage and no order can be placed for some months to come, but the present intention is to invite competitive tenders.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYSeeing that we not only have the best cable ship but the best machinery for making cables, can the hon. Gentleman not insist that the cable shall be British made as a condition of allowing it to land here?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI would point out that the whole of the risk in this matter is not being undertaken by us, and that half the capital is not being found by us—[Interrupt ion].
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in America they have no cable-making machinery; and can he not insist on a condition, as between this country and America, that if the cable is to land in this country it shall be British made?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHAs I have already said half of the capital is not being provided by us. [HON. MEMBERS: "But half is!"] We would, of course, do our best to get the order for this country, but I must point out also that, if our condition were found not to be acceptable, and if the cable were laid to France or Spain, which could be done more economically, it would lose us our vital position as the telephonic centre of the world.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHWhy would it be more economical to lay it to France or Spain?