In answer to questions in the House on Thursday, March
22nd, the Prime Minister said that neither H.M.'s Government nor the Imperial Wireless and Cable Con- ference had any knowledge of the details of the merger of the Eastern Telegraph and the Marconi companies. This merger was announced last week and we referred to it in our financial columns. If the combination works for efficiency and economy, so much the better, though it is the kind of service in which we dread the inevitable monopoly unless there is very careful control on behalf of the public. Some Governmental control or supporil is also needed from the very different point of view of security in war time, especially as it is well known that an American company would dearly like to possess any of the companies' facilities. The fusion was announced to be subject to agreements with the-Govern- ment and the Imperial Conference. The " Beam " system will obviously be the most important subject of negotiation.
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