§ 46. Mr. THURTLEasked the Prime Minister, if, in taking note of the warning of the Admiralty that considerable increases in naval expenditure would be necessary in the future, the Imperial Conference considered ways and means of raising the finance necessary for such increases?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member is, no doubt, referring to the last sentence of the third of the Conclusions on Defence, in which it is stated that the Imperial Conference noted the statements set forth by the Admiralty as to the formidable expenditure required within coming years for the replacement of warships, as they become obsolete, by up-to-date ships. The question which he asks as to the ways and means of raising the finance necessary to meet this expenditure relates to a matter which was not one for the Conference, but is one for each of the Governments concerned.
§ Mr. THURTLEDoes the Prime Minister not think that if the Imperial Conference is to be accepted as an authority as to the amount of armaments required, it ought also to accept obligations in regard to finance.
§ The PRIME MINISTERHow could it?