تي
cables. The effect of the continuance of the
concession, therefore, will be to divert the tele gra s
from the French route to the routes of Cable and
Wireless Limited, so it will be to the advantage
of the Company to continue the concessions for
telegrams from Hong Kong. I know of no international
undertakings which would prohibit this "undercutting";
but it is a point on which we should have the advice
of the General Post Office.
The Hong Kong end of the wireless circuit
between Hanoi and Hong Kong is operated by Cable and
Wireless Limited; it is possible, therefore, that
the French authorities may have consulted Cable and
Wireless Limited before granting the special rates
in respect of telegrams between Hanoi and Hong Kong.
On the other hand, the French may have promised a
reduction only on their share of the charges for such
telegrams.
I shoul send a copy of the enclosure to 1
semi-officially to Mr. Wilshaw, Chairman of Cable and
Wireless Limited, reference 3 on 53863/38 and ask
whether the Company are prepared to continue the
privileged rates for the telegrams in question.
At the same time we should send a copy of 1
and enclosures, with copies of 2 and 3 on 53863/38
hothosed above
Whyto
and the letter to Mr. Wilshaw/to Mr. Phillips of the
G.P.O., remarking that the effect of the maintenance
of the privileged rates from Hong Kong would seem
to be the diversion of the traffic in question from
the normal route between Hanoi - Geneva (presumably
a French route) to the routes of Cable and Wireless
Limited, and ask for his observations on this aspect
of the subject.
Send