§ 16. Sir J. D. REESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps the Government has taken to countervail the privilege of allowing conversion of merchantmen into battleships conferred on Germany by the ratification in 1909 of The Hague Conference of 1907, whereby 128 warships, forty-five of which are over 10,000 tons, and all of which are specially adapted to conversion, will be added to the German fleet when the Empire is at war?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I cannot accept the hon. Member's statement of the effect of ratifying the Convention in question, nor must I be taken as assenting to his figures as regards German merchant ships, or to his inferences as to their use in war. The question of the best means of dealing with the attempts which might be made on our sea-borne trade in time of war is one which constantly engages the attention of the Admiralty, but I am not prepared at the present time to make any statement as to the steps which have been, or will be, taken in the matter.