HC Deb 19 June 1924 vol 174 cc2314-5
48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the failure of the United States Senate to pass the Navy Bill and to the inevitable delay in laying down the eight new cruisers proposed for the United States navy; whether he proposes to take advantage of this situation to try and come to some further agreement on naval armaments with the chief maritime powers; and whether he will consider retarding the British building programme and, in particular, the five new British cruisers in the meantime?

Mr. CLYNES

The answer to the first Part of the question is in the affirmative. With reference to the second part, I have nothing to add to what has been re- peatedly stated here in answer to questions both by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself to be the policy of His Majesty's Government regarding armaments. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative.

Mr. HOPE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is the greatest resentment that only five cruisers, and not eight, are being proceeded with here?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, since the answers which he himself gave to previous questions, the whole situation has been altered by the failure of the United States Senate, which will mean a delay of at least 12 months in the United States building programme, and cannot we exercise real economy here, and give a lead in the matter of disarmament by postponing our programme?

Viscount CURZON

May I ask whether the five cruisers bore any relation whatever to anything done in the United States?

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Oh yes!

Mr. J. HARRIS

Have verbatim reports of these Debates yet been received by His Majesty's Government, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during those Debates the question of the so-called British and American rivalry was constantly before the House of Representatives, and that the question of the five cruisers had a definite bearing on the proposals of the American Government?

Mr. CLYNES

I can only say that the comments and arguments in the Supplementary Questions do not alter the attitude of the Government.

Captain BENN

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that the Government intend to go on building these warships whatever other nations do?

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Certainly they intend to go on.