§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the Prime Minister whether, when he compared the 40 first class battleships of the pre-" Dreadnought" type, which this country possesses, with the 20 ships of a similar type now completed in the German service, he had, when taking into consideration the two-Power standard plus 10 per cent, margin, counted in the pre-"Dreadnought" battleships of the United States Navy; and what are their numbers on the same basis of comparison as the abovementioned 40 and 20 ships.
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Prime Minister spoke of 40 first-class battleships of the pre-"Dreadnought" type which in 1912 would be under 20 years of age. The number of United States ships on the same basis of reckoning will be 25 pre-"Dreadnought" ships.
§ Mr. ASHLEYHas the two-Power standard been withdrawn? Am I to understand that?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, the hon. Member must not understand that.