§ Mr. BYLESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether the statement of the Imperial Chancellor in the German Reichstag, on Saturday, regarding Anglo-German relations, would influence, in the direction of retrenchment, the Naval Estimates shortly to be presented to Parliament?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)The friendly tone of the German Chancellor's speech is cordially reciprocated, but I must point out that our Navy Estimates are not based upon the assumption that other nations mean to be unfriendly to us or that we mean to be unfriendly to them. They are framed to preserve our standard of naval power and depend upon the actual naval expenditure of other countries. I do not understand that any public utterances of German Ministers have indicated any intention to modify the expenditure on the German naval programme as fixed by law.
§ Mr. BYLESMay I take that to mean that the magnitude of our Naval programme is entirely unaffected by the friendly assurances of a neighbouring nation?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think I have stated the terms fully in reply to my hon. Friend.
§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYHas the right hon. Gentleman any reason to anticipate that there will be a reduction of the German Naval Estimates in consequence of the statement of the Imperial Chancellor?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think the supplementary question is fully answered in the original reply I have given to my hon. Friend.