AIR ARMAMENTS. (Hansard, 10 July 1935)

§ 6. Mr. COCKS
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has given any assurance to the Government of France with regard to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Germany on air armaments?

§ Mr. EDEN
No, Sir; but it is the hope and intention of His Majesty's Government that an agreement on air armaments shall be concluded between the five Locarno Powers.

§ Mr. COCKS
Can the Minister give an assurance that there is no intention of concluding a bilateral agreement with Germany in the air as has been done on the sea?

§ Mr. EDEN
That is a different question. The hon. Member asked whether we had given an assurance to France with regard to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Germany on air armaments.

§ Mr. COCKS
Are the Government contemplating another act of treachery and surrender?

§ 23. Mr. COCKS
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has now made any inquiries as to the present strength of the German air force, and whether he has obtained any information on the subject which he can give to the House?

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)
I can add nothing to the statements to which I referred in my reply of the 3rd July.

§ Mr. COCKS
But the right hon. Gentleman did not answer the question. Has he made any inquiries into the matter, and how long are we to remain in the dark as to what is going on in Germany in this matter?

§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER
The whole question can be more conveniently dealt with in the Debate which we shall have shortly. We had a perfectly plain statement from the German Government of what their intention and programme are, and it is in relation to that that our programme is conceived and will be carried out.

§ Mr. COCKS
Cannot the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what that programme is?

§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER
I hope to have an opportunity. The House has already been told—

§ Mr. COCKS
Three months ago.

§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER
No, in May. The House has been told by the Prime Minister and by the Under-Secretary of State for Air what the programme is. An Estimate is to be presented early. I hope it will be in the hands of Members very early next week, and then I hope to have an opportunity of debating it. I shall be very glad to give the fullest possible explanation and justification of the programme.

§ Mr. A. BEVAN
Will the Estimate be formed on the basis of the assurance received from Germany or on the facts as they are in Germany?