2. Vice-Admiral TAYLORasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any agreement has been reached between France and Italy on the relationship of their naval forces?
§ 10. Captain EDENasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to make any statement as to the outcome of his visit and that of the First Lord of the Admiralty to Paris?
§ Mr. DALTONMy right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the First Lord of the Admiralty left Paris yesterday evening for Rome, where they will enter into conversations with the Italian Government. So long as these conversations are in progress, I feel sure that the House will not expect His Majesty's Government to make any further statement.
§ Mr. HANNONHave any special instructions been given by the Cabinet to the two right hon. Gentlemen who have gone to Rome?
§ Mr. DALTONObviously, that is a question which it would be improper for me to answer.
§ Mr. HANNONAre these two Ministers to give away British sea power without the House knowing what is taking place?
§ Captain EDENCannot the hon. Gentleman say anything as to the Franco-British negotiations which, I understand, are now complete?
§ Mr. DALTONI am very reluctant to submit on this subject to pressure even of a friendly character. There was a Press communiqué this morning which the hon. and gallant Gentleman, no doubt, read, and that, together with the answer I have given, is the maximum information that it would be proper for me, having regard to the importance of the subject and to the fact that my right hon. Friend will soon be back in the House, to give to-day.
§ Commander SOUTHBYCan the bon. Gentleman assure the House that the United States and Japanese Governments are being kept au fait with these negotiations?
§ Mr. DALTONYes, Sir.
§ 14. Commander SOUTHBYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give any information as regards the proposed naval building programme of France and Italy?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Ammon)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given him on 18th February (OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 1230–31, Vol. 248). I may add that no information of any later programmes has yet been published by either France or Italy.
§ Commander SOUTHBYIf I put a question down in a week's time, will the hon. Gentleman be able to give me a reply on the return of the First Lord?
§ 15. Commander SOUTHBYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how far the 2102 construction has gone in the 1930 naval programmes of France and Italy respectively?
§ Mr. AMMONAs far as is known, none of the vessels of the French or Italian naval building programmes for 1930 has yet been laid down. It is understood, however, that some of the vessels have been ordered and that work on material for the vessels is proceeding.
§ Commander SOUTHBYCan the hon. Gentleman say which of the vessels have been ordered?
§ 17. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the actual respective naval reductions which have been carried out by the different Powers, including ourselves, as a result of the various conferences which have been held since 1929, with the object of limiting naval armaments?
§ Mr. AMMONSince 1929, the London Naval Conference has been held with the object of limiting naval armaments. Command Paper No. 3547, dated 15th April, 1930, sets forth the results of this conference. No figures can be given of the actual respective naval reductions which have been carried out by the different Powers as a result of this conference, since they could only be calculated with reference to the building and scrapping programmes which would have eventuated had no conference been held.
§ 18. Mr. ROSSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information as to France or Italy availing themselves of the capital-ship tonnage to which they are entitled under the Washington Treaty?
§ 19. Mr. ROSSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state what is the view of his advisers as to whether the numbers of naval aircraft possessed by navies have any appreciable effect upon the strength of fleets; and, if they are held to have such an effect, whether regard will be had to the numbers of naval aircraft in future agreements for the limitation of naval armaments?
§ Mr. AMMONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The draft disarmament Convention drawn up by the Preparatory Commission, which will form the basis for the discussion at the coming general Disarmament Conference contains provisions for limiting the numbers of naval aircraft.
§ Mr. ROSSArising out of the first part of the reply of the hon. Gentleman, if that is so, why were they not taken into consideration in the London Naval Agreement?