CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 299

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Admiralty that, in the opinion of the Committee, it

was most desirable that steps should at once be taken by the naval authorities in conjunction with the local military authorities to select a site or sites which would suitable for the erection of the proposed stations.

This was to apply to the five stations under the control of the English and Indian Governments. Mr. Buxton then withdrew.

The question was then discussed as to the mode of constructing the stations. It was explained that the Marconi Company had made an offer to put their services at the disposal of the Government for the con- struction of the stations on the following terms. namely, the payment of the cost which was not to exceed £70,000 for each station erected; secondly, a lump sum of £250,000; thirdly, a d. per word for messages for each terminal and transit station. Mr. Samuel invited opinions as to the reasonableness of these terms. In return, if they were granted, the Company would re- frain from erecting or working long distance stations outside the Empire except with the approval of His Majesty's Government and would sist on pataining this system established by giving their experience and the use of present and future patents and inventions.

Mr. Samuel had had an interview with Mr. Isaacs of the

Marconi Company who had insisted on the fact that the

Company would be forced to co-operate with the Telefunken Company in establishing a chain of stations for Germany if they were denied the assistance of the Imperial Goverment. Mr. Samuel expressed the opinion

that