§ 7. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the proposals for naval limitations and reductions made at Geneva by the American delegate to the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament, it is proposed to retard the present programme of warship construction in this country?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWork on ships building will proceed. But as the hon. and gallant Member is aware it is not proposed to lay down ships of the 1929 programme until towards the end of the financial year.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman go a little further and delay further expenditure upon these ships until we know just where we shall stand in the future?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt would be rather premature to take any such steps until we know exactly what the proposals are.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the past we have lost a lot of the money of the taxpayers through proceeding with ships which it was afterwards agreed, by International Convention, not to proceed with?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am very much opposed to taking action prematurely in a case like this, not only because it 1534 would not improve our chances of agreement, but also because it would probably disturb work throughout the dockyards.
§ 8. Lieut. Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether following on the declarations of the American delegate at the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament at Geneva, it is proposed to recommence the conversations with America and Japan on naval reduction of armaments by mutual agreement which were interrupted by the breakdown of the Geneva Naval Conference in 1927?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONHis Majesty's Government are studying the suggestions outlined by Mr. Gibson. When the full proposals are before us we shall desire to proceed with their discussion in the way which seems to offer the best prospect of success.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCannot the right hon. Gentleman say something a little more hopeful than that? Cannot we agree in principle that the Conference shall again assemble, in view of the very satisfactory change in the situation?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI should have thought that from the observations made by my right hon. Friend in the House, and by Lord Cushendun at Geneva, the prospects were immensely hopeful.