§ 26. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any further statement about the conversations between the French and Italian Governments in continuance of the London Naval Conference?
Mr. A. HENDERSONAs I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on the 18th of June, the Italian Government offered to suspend, while the negotiations for which the Naval Conference was adjourned were proceeding, the laying down of any units of their 1930 naval programme, provided similar action was taken by the French Government. I am now able to add that the French Government have informed the Italian Government that, in accordance with arrangements already made, no ship of the French programme will be laid down 910 before December. I have no further statement to make on the subject at the present time.
§ 52. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the acceptance by the Government of the French Republic of the proposal for a naval shipbuilding holiday by the Royal Italian Government; and what action is to be taken by His Majesty's Government, especially with regard to our own proposed new warship building?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government have learned with pleasure of the arrangements being made by the Governments of France and Italy with a view to facilitating a resumption of discussions on the naval question. His Majesty's Government hope that these negotiations will complete the work of the London Naval Conference and apply the principles of naval limitation of Part III of the London Naval Treaty to all parties to the Conference. It is not necessary that His Majesty's Government should take any action in this connection with regard to the naval programme for 1930 announced for this country, since this programme is purely for necessary replacements within the reduced tonnage limits imposed by Part III of the Treaty. That this programme would be put in hand was well understood by all the Powers represented at the London Conference.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs my right hon. Friend aware that the French ships which are not to be laid down till the end of the year are also described as for replacement purposes, and would it not help matters if we postponed also?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs a matter of fact, the French Government have never said that the ships that they are going to lay down, the ships in their naval programme, were for replacement purposes only, but, on the other hand, it was perfectly clearly understood by both the French and the Italian Governments, and by the United States and Japanese Governments, that the programme which is now 'before this House was included in Part III and is in no sense a competitive programme.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his full answer, may I ask whether the fact that these other Powers understood that we contemplated building certain ships compels us to build them?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat has nothing to do with the question.
§ Major ROSSOn a point of Order. May not a question be asked from this side of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe have had several questions on the subject already.
§ Major ROSSNo question has been asked from this side.