CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 407

DR. EUCLES confirmed this, quoting letters from

General Smuts and the South Wrican Minister of Jefence.

THE POSTAS TER GENERAL enquired whether the proposals

by Australia and India would definitely put them outside

the Imperial Chain.

DR. CLS considered it would be difficult to

bind commercial companies to co-operate cordially with

Chain stations in view of the fact that atmospheric

conditions were so erratic. Also complicated questions

of compensation for the interruption of commerciel traffic

by Imperial business would arise.

-

LIR. BROWN was inclined to think that the second

station in gypt might be omitted. Fe pointed out that,

for direct com unication with Australia, a more powerful

station then the Planing Commission had proposed to erect

in the first instance would be desirable in England. This

station would also be aole to communicate direct with

India.

He suggested that the inglish station should have

increased power up to 240 K.W, in the aerial the eventual

maximum contemplated by the Planning Commissi on. He

also suggested that the nong Kong atation should be

omitted. In any case that station was the least important

of the Chain, and it had probably become less important

than it had been as a consequence of the decisions

taken at the Washington Conference. The funds obtained

by the omission of the Egyptian and Hong Kong stations

would, he surested, enable the Imperial Government

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