§ 48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the First Lord of the Admiralty at Whitchurch on 16th January last, in which the right hon. Gentleman said that, in his opinion, there was not much use in making any further proposals for limitations of naval armaments by mutual agreement, represents the policy of His Majesty's Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. And gallant Member has left out half of the sentence he purports to quote from the First Lord's speech. What my right hon. Friend said was that so long as suspicion as to our intention exists he doubted if there was much use in our putting forward new proposals. The policy of His Majesty's Government is to allay any such suspicion, and perhaps it would not be too much to ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman to assist us.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman ever considered why these suspicions have been aroused, and, particularly, has he considered the effect of the Anglo-French Naval and Military Pact?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is my duty, of course, to watch these things and their causes.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHave I not frequently assisted the right hon. Gentleman by advising him to change his course?
§ Sir FRANK MEYERIs it not a fact that articles written by the Leaders of the two Opposition parties have largely contributed to create these suspicions?
§ Lieut. - Colonel Sir GODFREY DALRYMPLE-WHITEDid not Senator Borah quote the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) in this connection of suspicion?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is another case of a whole sentence not being quoted and that in this case it makes a great difference, whereas in 603 the other case it only makes the First Lord's statement more mischievous?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs there not a great danger that by talking too much we shall create difficulties?
§ 56. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to state if it is proposed to make any reply to the Note of the American Secretary of State of 28th September last to His Majesty's Government, No. 29 of Cmd. 3211, in which it is stated that the Government of the United States of America remains willing to use its best efforts to obtain a basis of further naval limitation satisfactory to all the naval Powers and is willing to take into consideration the special needs of any naval Power for the particular class of vessel deemed most suitable for defence; that a proposal along the lines indicated made by Great Britain would be sympathetically considered by the United States of America; and, if so, what decision has been arrived at?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have nothing to add to the answers which I gave to the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Rennie Smith) and the hon. and gallant Member himself on Wednesday last.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman see that this letter, to which I referred in a question as long ago as last September, opened the door very wide for more favourable negotiations with America on a matter which he himself referred to, I believe, on Saturday night at Birmingham?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIt is, of course, open to either of the Governments at any time to make proposals to the other if they think that they can usefully do so. As I told the hon. and gallant Gentleman on Wednesday last, the whole matter is under consideration by His Majesty's Government, and at present I have no fresh proposals to make.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman see that in this Note the invitation was given to us to consider different types of vessels suited to ourselves, and that this is a way out of the deadlock reached at Geneva?