On Monday, before the Marconi Committee, a letter was read
from Mr. Godfrey Isaacs requesting that the Government would regard the contract with the Company as "no longer binding upon either party." Mr. Isaacs pointed out that since the contract was agreed upon delay had followed delay in obtaining the ratification of Par- liament. The company had been put to great expense in maintaining almost in idleness the special staff engaged for the Imperial undertaking. If eventually the Government wanted the services of the company they would be available "on such terms as may be then agreed." We may point out that if the contract is abandoned there is no need for the public interest to suffer, as under the Patents Act the Govern- ment have power to use the Marconi patents if they so desire. We trust, however, that if the request of the Marconi Company should be acted upon it will be most clearly understood that the inquiry by the Committee ought to go on as before. There are several most important questions involved besides the purely technical one. The Ministers who welcomed the appointment of a Select Committee as a means of putting an end to all the gossip about improper dealing in Marconi shares and undesirable influences affecting the transaction as a whole will, of course, be particularly concerned to secure that the Committee shall complete its investigations.
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