§ 58. Mr. HOGGEasked the Lord President of the Council if he will state the submarine tonnage proposed to be allotted to the Great Powers by the Washington Conference; and the present strength of those Powers in submarine tonnage.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)I have been asked to reply to this question.
The original proposal made by the United States was as follows:
No agreement was reached on either of these sets of proposals.
Great Britain … … 90,000 tons United States … … 90,000 tons Japan … … 54,000 tons To this was subsequently added France … … 31,500 tons Italy … … 31,500 tons After the British plea for the abolition of submarines the United States made a fresh proposal. United States … … 60,000 tons Great Britain … … 60,000 tons Japan, France, and Italy to maintain the status quo giving Japan … … 31,452 tons France … … 31,391 tons Italy … … 21,000 tons The present strengths (including vessels building) are as follows:
- United States, 94,600 tons, including 40,808 building.
- Great Britain, 80,476 tons, including 10,100 building.
- Japan, 32,219 tons, including 22,165 building.
- France, 30,873 tons, nil building.
- Italy, 20,257 tons, including 2,616 building.