§ 46. Commander SOUTHBYasked the Prime Minister why, in view of his statement on the 7th July that the Imperial Conference might well afford a convenient opportunity for a discussion of naval building programmes in the light of the London Naval Treaty, no naval representative of the Admiralty was included in the list of delegates to that Conference, seeing that Ministers of all the other principal Departments were included?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe fact that the official list of United Kingdom delegates to the Conference does not include representatives of the Admiralty or of certain other Departments, does not preclude and has not, in fact, precluded representatives of those Departments from participating in the discussions of the Conference on matters in which they are concerned.
§ Commander SOUTHBYAre we to understand that they participate only in an advisory capacity and not as delegates?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is very difficult to draw the line. All I can say is that, as a matter of fact, at the Conference the subjects that are in the hon. and gallant Member's mind have been discussed.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAHas any proposal been made to the Conference that the Dominions should contribute a proportionate share towards the expense of maintaining the Navy?