The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-23

of 6fty When that act arrived in England his
noble friend the Colonial Secretary gave to the sub
feet very full consideration and came to the most
uneuuivocal resolution in no way to confirm the
monopoly. e. Hear, hear" from Earl Grey.) An
order in council had accordingly gone out
within the last few days disallowing the act
in question. The noble earl had asked on
what grounds OF policy the sanction of such
monopoly could be defended. That was question
which he could not answer. 1t concerned the late
government rather than the present one. He agreed
with the noble earl that the concession Of such
elusive privileges must be very injurious to the
public interests. The science of telegraphic COM
munication, wonderful as had been It's progress
within the last twelve years, was still comparatively
IN its infancy II would therefore be most unwise
10 bind ourselves rashly to particular plan and
TO discourage improvement by securing to that plan
. monopoly of fifty years duration. (Hear, hear)
There was no objection to the motion Of the noble
earl if he would omit the last paragraph.
The Earl of DERBY hoped that the noble earl
would not press his last paragraph, but would rest
satisfied with the assurance of the government that
there existed at present no engagement between
them and any other telegraph companies, than the
Atlantic and the Mediterranean Extension Compa
panies, and that neither of those companies pos
sessed exclusive privileges. He might add that
. negotiation was now pending with regard
an Stc1 company both but dss
that no monopoly would be granted; and the only
objection to the production Of this part Of the cor
respondence was that it would involve great delay
u
prove very inconvenient in respect of any future
negotiations. The noble earl might rest perfectly
satisfied not only that no exclusive privileges had
yet been conceded by her Msjesty's government,
but that il their intention sedulously TO abstain
from granting any.
Lord STANLEY OF ALDEaLBY was glad to hear that
her Majesty's government had refused TO sanction
the creation Of any monopoly in regard to tele-
graphic communication. With respect to the line
Of telegraph to be established between Corfu and
Alexandria, upon which our communication with
India and with our great military posts in the
Mediterranean would be greatly dependent, it
would be most unwse that the entire control should
be vested in an Austrian company In the event Of
our being at war with Austria or any other Power,
we should the risk of having our most important
intelligence at transmitted to the enemy with
out having the power of taking the direction of the
communication into our own hands. We ought,
therefore to reserve to ourselves had done in
all the grants to other companies, the right Of TAX
ing possession of the telegraph in case of necessity
He objected to any foreign government having con-
troll over the laying down of Geographic line be-
tween Malta and Corfu, and thought that her Ma
jestys government ought to invite British companies
20 undertake the construction of q telegraph be-
tween Malta and Alexandris. He had no doubt that
British capitalists would readily undertake to con-
struct It cheaply, II not more cheapiy, than any
foreign company. If it would pay foreign capital
lists to construct such line Il would pay British
capitalists equally well. 1t desirable that the
government Of this country should itself undertake
to construct the line at least guarantee interest
Of the money that might be expended by British
capitalists In constructing it, with view Of ac-
curing control OF it. He wished to know what
answer had been made by her Majesty's government
to the Sandman and Austrian governments upon the
subject
The Earl of Deeply During the late government
there does not seem to have been any communca-
tion between the Treasury and the Board of Trade.
(Hcar, hear, and laugh3 All the points to which
the noble lord has referred are, believe, provided
for in the negotiations, far they have gone be-
tween the Austrian government on this subject. |
believe they have received most careful and deliberate
consideration. But If they have not, the present
government undoubtedly cannot be deemed response
Bile, because very elaborate Treasury minute was left
in the Treasury by the colleagues of the noble lord on
this subject. (Hear, bear) They took every precau-
sion, but am sorry TO say that in one respect they
failed 20 do their duty-the Board Of Trade was not
made aware of the determination of the Treasury.
clear hear, and langhter) One Of the stpula-
tons OF their arrangement was that we should have
complete power in our hands to lay down or avail
ourselves OF as many other lines we may think
fit 1t distinctly stipulated that with respect to
the line between Malta and Alexandria we should
have the most complete control over IT, The nego-
tiations are not yet determined. but l think the
noble lord will find, when am enabled TO lay the
result thereof the table, that the interests of this
country were not neglected by his late colleague in
the Treasury. (Hear bear)
Lord RsDsspALE reminded their lordships that he
last session opposed that clause in the bill for the
construction OF the Atlantic telegraph which would
have gwen to the United States government right
equal to that given 10 own sovereign to control
thai line, because he thought that was o most OBJ
jectionable arrangement. He thought that in these
matters had not been sufficiently careful 10 secure
those advantages TO which we were entitled.
Lord STANLEY OF ALDERLEY said the government
had not yet answered his question, viz (: what an
swer had been given by her Majesty's government
10 the Sandman governments proposition with re-
spect to the formation of the line between Malta
and Alexandria, which proposition was precisely
similar 10 that made by the Austrian government
The Earl Of DERBY-The noble lord will forgive
me for saying that the question Of the advantage
disadvantage Of two telegraphic lines from Malta to
Alexandria, by different routes, was very elaborate,
" discussed In the Treasury minute that found
when came into Office, left by the late Secretary
10 the Treasury and IL thereby appears that the late
government gave the preference 10 the line by way
Of Ragusa 10 Alexandria.
Lord STANLEY or ALpxRLsy said the noble lord
che Secretary Cor Foreign Affairs was very relnc
iant 10 answer the question--What reply had been
given by the government TO the proposition vi the
Sandman government
The Earl OF M.LnEsBuHY-I should not have
bad the least reluctance TO the question IL
the noble lord bad given me notice Of IT, He knows
perfectly well that there were two rival lines the
merits Of which her Majesty's government
had 70 discuss. I hope there viii be two
lines. We ought not to trust 10 one only. As the
noble lord appears ta take great interest In this mat
ter | may inform him that i wa only the other day
that gentleman proposed 10 her Majesty's govern
nent ~ lay down n telegraphc line from Plymouth
10 Gibraltar thence 20 Malta, and finally 10 Alexan
dria. -, hear.) | can assure the noble lord
that her Majestys government are not at all memo
uo,ists in this matter.
Earl GsEY had heard with great pleasure that her
Maa-tys government had determined not 70 grant
rsCiusve privileges 10 any company with respect TO
Geographic communication between the coast Of
ireland and Newfoundland. Ii was OF great mpor
lance that the line Of communication between Bril-
ish possessions should he kept a. mnch a. possible
In British hands. lie regretted very much that we
bad anything 10 do with guarantee with the Unit
al IA \ in N, Ia La
between Newfoundland and the coast of Ireland
whereby power Of controlling that line was given
b. the United States government He hoped that
her Majesty's government would refuse TO allow any
ff the ships Of the Royal Navy 20 aid in laying
down that line unless the United States government
relaxed the conditions Of the very imprudent bar.
gain that had been entered into. He hoped that the
line from Plymouth 20 Alexandria. by way of Glib
ratar aud Malta OF which the noble earl the Secrc-
tary OF Foreign Affairs had spoken, would be laid
dazn became ~ Of the ntmnst imnnrtance