Lord Robert Cecil moved an amendment that in the absence
of a report by an independent body on the desirability of an agreement with contractors, or on the terms of the contract proposed, the House ought to refuse its approval. The only argument of weight, be said, for entrusting the construction of stations to a company was that the job would be done speedily. He thought the State itself should carry out the construction, and he believed it could do so without serious delay. Frankly he did not like the management of the Marconi Company. The offer of shares to a member of the Government was " susceptible of a very sinister interpretation," and it was unfortunate that it should be found necessary to employ this company. Mr. Herbert Samuel's argument in defending the contract was mainly one of urgency. The Government had been warned by the Army Council, the Admiralty, and the Committee of Imperial Defence that delay was dangerous to the safety of the Empire. The wireless stations were to make communication sure in the event of the cables being cut. So long as communication was left unsecured the Empire was exposed to a great risk. The stations would be under the control of a small committee of Post Office and Admiralty engineers. The Parker Com- mittee would be maintained.
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