298
that it was not possible to prevent, nor was desiraole
to prenent
if possible the Germans erecting stations outside British territory, and he pointed out that if the Marconi Company refused the use of their patents to foreign Governments, those Governments might legislate so as to use their patents on such terms as they thought fit.
On the other hand the Marconi Companywas the only Company known which had worked and could work reasonably continuously long distance stations. The position of the Admiralty was that it was paying annually a sum of £5,000 for the use of Marconi's patents; master patent expired in 1913 and 1914 and a renewal as against the Admiralty would be impossible, but on the other hand a renewal was confidently ex- pected by the Company as against the world at large and probably against other Government Departments, for the Admiralty was precluded by its agreement from communicating to other Government Departments the knowledge it had acquired of the Marconi patents and its use of the patents was restricted for naval purposes. Mr. Mackay pointed out also that while in England, Australia and New Zealand the Patent Acts permitted the use of wireless telegraphy by the Government on
payment which would fall to be decided by arbitration or by the Court, it was doubtful whether there was such legislation in Cyprus or Singapore and Hr. Samuel
asked that this should be ascertained. (It was pointed
out later to Mr. Samuel that there did not appear to
be
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