MR. PIKE PEASEOn behalf of the hon. Member for the Ealing Division of Middlesex, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether in the event of the battleships building in this country for Brazil being placed upon the market the Government will give the House an assurance that their sale shall not be permitted detrimentally to disturb the balance of naval power, as might be the case if they were acquired by a nation possibly hostile in international and maritime interests.
§ MR. MCKENNAUnless and until the ships referred to are placed upon the 705 market, it seems premature to discuss the question of their purchase.