27. Captain ARTHUR EVANSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made by the various signatories to the Washington Treaty in scrapping the units of their fleet in excess of their establishment under the said Treaty; whether a specified date was arranged for the completion of their respective disarmament; and, if so, when does this time expire?
§ Mr. AMERYAs the reply to the first part of the question is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. and gallant. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
As regards the second part, the date of rendering unfit for further warlike service ships to be scrapped under the Washington Treaty is six months after the date of the Treaty being ratified by all the signatories.
Captain EVANSWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the United States of America had in commission at the time the Treaty was signed any capital ships which should have been scrapped under the Treaty, and if any progress has been made with scrapping them?
§ Mr. AMERYA very considerable number of ships were under construction which fell due to be scrapped, as well as some of the older vessels. A beginning has been made with the scrapping of the latter.
§ The reply to the first part of the question is as follows:
§ United States of America.
§ Work on 11 capital ships under construction has been stopped.
§ Two battleships have been sold and are being broken up.
§ Five battleships have been dismantled preparatory to sale.
§ These last seven ships are all of obsolete type.
§ Japan.
§ Work on two capital ships under construction has been stopped.
§ Five capital ships have had their armament removed.
§ Eight capital ships have been paid off.
§ France and Italy.Not affected.
§ British Empire.
§ The programme of four capital ships abandoned and two capital ships of smaller tonnage substituted.
§ 18 capital ships have been rendered incapable of further warlike service, and 17 of these have been sold for complete breaking up.