Mr. G. D. FABERasked the Prime Minister whether, as ships of the pre-"Dreadnought" type passed out of the active list to make way for "Dreadnoughts" and "Invincibles," he proposed to maintain the two-Power standard, as already defined by him in capital ships, in the case of ships of the "Dreadnought" and "Invincible" type; and, if not, what standard of power in relation to foreign countries did he propose to maintain in ships of that type?
§ Mr. McKENNAI must refer the hon. Member to the actual words of the Prime Minister: "I will only say that in dealing with the two-Power standard with the question whether or not we in this country have a naval force which is adequate to satisfy that requirement, you must of course not take into account merely what the right hon. Gentleman did, namely, the number of your 'Dreadnoughts' and 'Invincibles,' but you must take the total effective strength for defensive purposes as compared with the combined effective strength of two other fleets for aggressive purposes."
Mr. G. D. FABERMay I ask for a reply to the last paragraph of the question, namely, what standard of power in relation to foreign countries does the Prime Minister propose to maintain in ships of that type?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe concluding words of my reply were:—"You must take the total effective strength for defensive purposes as compared with the combined effective strength of two other fleets for aggressive purposes." That is the standard.
Mr. G. D. FABERBut when the time comes—as it has been admitted it must come—when we have only "Dreadnoughts," what will be the standard of comparison?
§ Mr. McKENNAAt that time the total effective strength will consist of "Dreadnoughts."
§ Viscount HELMSLEYHave the Admiralty now abandoned the rule that the proper function of the British Navy in time of war is to seek out the enemy's fleet and destroy it?
§ Mr. McKENNANo
§ Mr. ASHLEYIs it not the fact that Germany and the United States have 45 pre-"Dreadnought" ships, while we have only 40?
§ Mr. McKENNAWill the hon. Gentleman be so good as to study the words which I have read?
§ Mr. J. HODGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as a result of these "scare" questions, a little girl, when she saw a German band on Saturday, ran home frightened?