CANADA TAKES OFFENCE OVER PACIFIC CABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17836, 3 May 1926, Page 12

CANADA TAKES OFFENCE OVER PACIFIC CABLE.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 1. It is understood that a lively position has arisen as the result of Mr Murphy’s statement on Canada s position regarding the Pacific cable and Sir James Allen’s reply. The text has been cabled back to London to the Canadian Commissioner, Mr Larkin, with the request to seek an explanation from Sir James Allen, whose comments are stated to have caused very strong resentment in Ottawa. A message on April 25 said:—Sir James Allen* who drew up the statement to which Mr Murphy replied concerning the Pacific cable, states that apparently Mr Murphy has changed his ground of attack, which was originally strenuous objection to the use of permalloy instead of nuxnetal in the new cable. “ Our independent investigation convinced the board of the superiority of permalloy, in addition to which it is British, while numetal is American. The first serious diversion of opinion arose on the Canadian proposal to avoid excessive expenditure by duplications via Honolulu. The board emphatically disagreed on the ground that it would cease to be an All Red route. Australia and New Zealand supported the board. Then the present contract was let. If Canada continues her dissent, she has only two choices, either she must refuse a landing for the cable at Bamfleld or withdraw from partnership. The former is unthinkable because even foreigners were not denied a landing. The latter would necessitate an Imperial Conference, at which Australia, New Zealand and Canada would arrange terms for the winding up of the partnership.” Mr Pacaud (Canadian representative in London), is not prepared to indicate Canada’s future action, which he says is in the hands of the PostmasterGeneral, who administers the Department under authority of Order-in-Coun-cil. At present there is no reason to expect a withdrawal, which presumably would be a Cabinet matter, but even if that occurred it would not affect the service. The only change would be that Canada, instead of being a partner, would collect land line tolls. ;