Mr. PIKE PEASEasked the Postmaster-General whether, as so much stress is laid by the advisers of the Department on the undesirability of delay in the construction of the wireless chain, he will give more precise reasons for the decision at which they have arrived; and will he indicate whether these are scientific, commercial, or strategical, and in each case under what circumstances they arise?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThis question raises issues far too large to admit of answer within the limits of a Parliamentary reply. The points have been dealt with frequently in Debate, and in the evidence of the naval and military authorities before the Select Committee, and I shall be glad to deal with them again in the course of the forthcoming discussion in this House.
Mr. PIKE PEASEalso asked whether Clause 21 indicates that there is any doubt whatever as to the validity of any of the Marconi patents, and, if so, what they are; and whether the point has been raised at any time in the course of the negotiations, and, if so, in what way?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. The clause is inserted as an additional safeguard.
Mr. PIKE PEASEnext asked the Postmaster-General whether, as the proposed contract for the Imperial wireless service will be one for six stations, he will take steps to insert a clause in that contract which will enable him to safeguard himself against any claim in respect of the second paragraph of clause 2 due to the fact that the contractors may inform him that it is better for them in preparing certain parts of the equipment and apparatus to prepare for the whole six stations, so that, in the event of the Marconi Company not being called upon to complete the second portion of the contract, they will not be entitled to claim in respect of apparatus prepared for the second three stations?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe company are required to give notice before incurring any expenditure on any of the second three stations so as to enable the Postmaster-General if he so desires to exercise his option to cancel the agreement so far as it applies to those stations or 1493W any of them. The consideration raised by the hon. Member would, of course, be borne in mind.
Mr. PIKE PEASEfurther asked the Postmaster-General whether he will grant to other wireless inventors who may suspect that their patents are being infringed in a Government station the same opportunities of obtaining independent inspection of such installation as is accorded to the Marconi Company in paragraph 19 of the agreement, as it is generally known that what are described as secret inventions in wireless telegraphy are usually merely the secret use of adaptations of the property of other patentees?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAny such application would be considered on its merits if and when the occasion arose.