§ 47. Mr. HARRISasked the Prime Minister whether the Government has had any recent official communication with the United States on the question of the cruiser programme; and whether there is any immediate prospect of reopening negotiations for the purpose of arriving at a mutual agreement for the further limitation of naval construction?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe latest communication from the United States Government was their Note of the 28th September last. The latter part of the question was fully dealt with in the answers I gave to questions put by the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Rennie Smith) and the hon. and gallant Member for Hull, Central (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 23rd and 28th of January respectively.
§ Mr. HARRISAm I to understand that the policy of the Government is to do nothing, and that the question is being allowed to drift?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo. If the hon. Member had heard the answers to which I have referred, he could not be under that misapprehension.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAre we still to understand that an answer is eventually to be sent to the Note of September last?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think that an answer was actually promised to the United States Government, but in any case the matter will not be left where it is.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESDoes the right hon. Gentleman contemplate calling any conference to deal with the related question of maritime law, which is the principal obstacle in the way of an agreement on cruiser construction?
§ 60. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the growing tendency among naval powers to embark on larger building programmes, His Majesty's Government will consider making some bold pronouncement on those aspects of sea policy which are the root cause of suspicion, together with a new offer of disarmament?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe problem of the limitation of armaments in all its aspects is receiving the close consideration of His Majesty's Government, and I am not in a position to make any statement.
§ Mr. WELLOCKIs the question of the freedom of the seas also being included in this consideration?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have already stated in a different connection that all these matters connected with naval limitation are receiving the consideration of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. RENNIE SMITHDoes the right hon. Gentleman contemplate making some new statement on this matter before the Conference at Geneva in April?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI am afraid that the most I can say is that I do not 1401 want to make a statement until I have a statement to make, and I do not know when that will be.