WIRELESS CONTROL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10510, 14 February 1928, Page 5

WIRELESS CONTROL.

AMERICA'S POWERFUL POSI-

TION

UNITIvD STATES STILL CONSOLIDATING STRENGTH.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT ‘ IN-

DIFFERENT

(Uuited Press Assn. -Copyright.)

(N.Z. and Aust, Press Assn, and Sun.) LONDON, Feb*. 12, The newspaper Observer,, in a lengthy .article, emphasises, tlie necessity for the wireless conference dealing with the position that has arisen owing to American activities in the last two years, -whereby the Government, acting through financial and commercial organisations, and supported by diplomatic representatives, dominates international communications and is still steadily consolidating its strength. It adds: “American companies control Spanish telephones and support the Spanish-Argentine companies- establishing trans-Atlantic wireless. They chiefly influence Japanese companies operating in the Far East; they considerably influence the German companies controlling Telefunken, and they possess control of the French Thoinson-Houton Company. They are thereby responsible for developing long-distance telephony in Europe, it is a bold, magnificent policy',' overshadowing Germany’s before tlie war. “The British Government is indifferent towards America’s effort, influential circles believing that assistance to the existing companies is contrary to the Government’s policy of securing control of communications. The Government fails to realise, as the American Government did, that there is a chance of influencing world communications outside our own borders.

EMPIRE’S SERVICE DISORGANISED. “Britain’s position is more humiliating because before the war she was pre-eminent and 'London was tlie telegraphic centre of Europe. To-day America is rapidly outdistancing tlie Empire, and Paris is the European nerve centre. The Empire’s services are disorganised, and even conflicting despite the great capital resources and wireless personnel equivalent to America’s she cannot compete with the powerful organisations under.the unified control supported b.y the American Government at home and abroad. “The conference doubtless considered this matter. Presumably Britain will give a lead to the Dominions, but British individualism may render impossible tlie combination of the resources necessary to enable the Empire to obtain some shale ol the communications America now influences. Nevertheless, the solution is the placing in commercial hands of the whole external telegraphs and cable as a public utility company. •LMPEEJ AL COMM UN J CAT lONS BOARD URGED. x\.n Imperial Communications Board resembling tin* Communications Committee, and .including representatives of Britain, the Dominions and colonies. should he iormed to protect the public and regulate the rate.-, v hit'll should be the lowest possible to ensure a fair return lor the capital, and also to determine strategic questions bv wireless and cable. Moreover, the utility company should have tlie active .support, of the Imperial Government, extending British influence in world communications.