21. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the decision of the Naval Committee at Geneva, in connection with the question of disarmament, that, for the purpose of comparison, tonnage should be the only test, irrespective of the type of ships concerned, cuts across the principles laid down at the Washington Conference; and will he state whether, if this decision is confirmed, it will have any bearing upon the naval programme of this country?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, this 386 majority decision of the Naval Sub-Committee dealt only with the methods of comparison of naval armaments. Pending the consideration of other questions by the Sub-Committee and the conclusions of the Preparatory Commission and the holding of a Disarmament Conference, the naval programme cannot he regarded as in any way affected by the decision mentioned.
§ 2. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what safeguards exist for minority views in the experts' preliminary investigation as to international disarmament; and whether the three conferences are proceeding along lines approved of by the British representatives?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINAll minority reports have to be forwarded to the Preparatory Committee, and will necessarily be taken into consideration by that body when framing its own report Any country which may dissent from the opinions expressed in that report will be able to state its views before the conference when the latter eventually meets, and to reserve its liberty if ultimately it still finds itself in a minority. As regards the second part of the question, the British representatives on the Military and Air Sub-Committees have agreed subject to one or two reservations, to the reports adopted by those sub-committees. The British representative on the Naval Sub-Committee associated himself with the minority report signed by a number of his colleagues.