§ 23. Mr. LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the German war-ships allocated to various Powers will be broken up, or whether they will be retained as an incentive to provoke further warship building and so begin afresh another race in naval war armaments?
§ Sir J. CRAIGAll the ships will be broken up with the exception of five light cruisers and ten destroyers, which will be incorporated in the French Fleet, a similar number in the Italian Fleet, and six torpedo boats allocated to Poland and six to Brazil for police purposes.
§ Mr. LAMBERTMay I ask if the Powers to whom some of these ships have been allocated will break up those ships; will the British Admiralty also break up their share and thus prevent these ships becoming a focus for future naval armament?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThat is a matter of policy which I will submit to the First Lord on his return.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNWill the hon. Gentleman say whether the ships allocated to Poland will be made available to help in their operations against Russia?
§ Commander Viscount CURZONMay I ask whether the expression "broken up" will be taken to include using these ships as targets, if necessary?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe noble Lord will appreciate the fact that I have given all the information asked for in the question.