§ 42. Mr. J. HARRISasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Naval Bill of the United States Government has not been passed by the House 25 of Representatives, and that the laying down of the proposed eight cruisers has been postponed; whether he is aware that during the Debate upon this Bill an Amendment was accepted by all parties empowering President Coolidge to suspend any part of the proposed expenditure at his discretion in the event of his being able to secure another international conference upon the limitation of naval armaments; whether, in view of this fundamental change in the naval position, His Majesty's Government is prepared to postpone the construction of the five modern cruisers, and at the same time to approach the United States Government with a view to securing another naval conference?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware that, as a result of a Motion introduced in the Senate, the Bill, which had passed both Houses of Congress, cannot come into force before the next Session, and that the laying down of the proposed eight cruisers has therefore not yet been authorised. The reply to the second part is in the affirmative. For a reply to the third part, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19th June to the hon. and gallant Member for the Central Division of Kingston-upon-Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) by the Lord Privy Seal.
§ Mr. HARRISWould not the right hon. Gentleman welcome this House placing him in the same position in this matter as President Coolidge, namely, to invite him to suspend ail or any part of the expenditure upon these cruisers in the event of his being able to secure a new naval conference?
§ Viscount CURZONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he stated in terms, I think, in the Debate on these cruisers, that they bore no relation whatever to what was being done in the United States of America?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is perfectly true. If I was in a position to say to this House that the cruisers were not required, I should not require the House to pass a Resolution to make it possible for me to do so.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the whole of this Debate, as the verbatim report shows, the starting of a 26 new race of armaments between ourselves and the United States of America was put forward?