§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster-General when the four breaks in the transatlantic telephone cables took place; what was the nationality of those responsible; and whether it is possible for a submarine cable to be tapped by interfering with the repeater.
§ Mr. BevinsParticulars of the four breaks in the telephone cable linking this country with Canada and the U.S.A. are given below:
Date Place Circumstances 21.2.59 195 miles east of Newfoundland Damage by trawler; the only trawlers known to be in the immediate vicinity of the fault were Russian. 3.7.59 60 miles west of Scotland Damage by unidentified trawler, probably British. 24.3.60 In the Cabot Strait Many trawlers of several nationalities in the area. No indentification possible. 15.3.60 180 miles east of Newfoundland Do. It is not possible to obtain access to the working parts of an underwater repeater for tapping or for any other purpose without putting the cable system out of action.