Radio Telephone

In England where the government operates the transatlantic radio telephone service a plaint arose last week--that during the eleven months of radio telephone service between England and the U. S. only 834 calls originated in England, less than three a day. Fees paid totaled $250,000, but cost of operating the sending station at Rugby was $600,000. This must be investigated, cried T. D. Fenby, Liberal member of Parliament, and the service perhaps discontinued. In Manhattan the American Telephone &Telegraph Co. (Bell System), which makes the transatlantic connections from the American side, immediately counterblasted the British plaint. Its operators have been placing seven to eight calls a day for London; the company's profits have exceeded $100 a day. There was little possibility of discontinuing the service, said officials. But the charge of $75 for three minutes or less talk would not soon be reduced.