§ 20. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the position with regard to our proposal, now supported by the American Government, for the illegalising of the submarine by mutual agreement; and whether he is considering the renewal of this proposal at the next conference on naval armaments?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe position is that the declaration of the British Empire delegation made during the Washington Conference, 1921, and since confirmed, remains the opinion of His Majesty's Government, but that, until other nations accede to this opinion, no agreement is possible. As regards the second part of the question, the possibility of reaching agreement on this matter is constantly borne in mind by His Majesty's Government, and a re-statement of His Majesty's Government's opinion will be made at the first favourable moment.
§ 27. Mr. ALBERYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to discontinue, for the present, the laying down of any fresh submarines?
Mr. ALEXANDERIn the present state of international opinion on the subject, the answer is in the negative. As the hon. Gentleman knows, His Majesty's Government have repeatedly offered to discontinue the use of submarines if other Powers would agree, and they still occupy that position.