Notes

Abstract

IN reply to a question asked in the House of Commons on Thursday last, the Postmaster-General stated that arrangements have been completed with the Marconi Company for the transfer to the Post Office of all their coast stations for communicatipn with ships, including all plant, machinery, buildings, land, and leases, & c., and for the surrender, of. the rights which they enjoy under their agreement with the Post Office of August, 1904, for licences or facilities in respect of coast stations intended for such communication. In addition, the Post Office secures the right of using, free of royalty, the existing Marconi patents and any future patents or improvements, for a term of fourteen years, for the following purposes:—communication for all purposes between stations in the United Kingdom and ships, and between stations on the mainland of Great Britain and Ireland on the one hand and outlying islands on the other, or between any two outlying islands; and (except for the transmission of public telegrams) between any two stations on the mainland; and on board Post Office cable ships. All the stations will, under the International Radio-telegraphic Convention, be open for communication equally to all ships, whatever system of wireless telegraphy they may carry, and the Post Office will be free to use or to experiment with any system of wireless telegraphy at its discretion. All inland communication of messages. by wireless telegraphy will be entirely., under the control of, the Post Office. Arrangements have also been made with Llovd's for the transfer to the Post Office of their wireless stations for -communication with ships, and for the surrender of all claims to licences for such communication.