§ 47. Sir K. WOODasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the negotiations between France and Italy upon their respective naval construction programmes?
§ The PRIME MINISTERInformal discussions on the naval question are still continuing and this being the case the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that I am not in a position to make any statement at the present time.
§ Major ROSSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that meanwhile our relative naval position in European waters is deteriorating rapidly as a result of this competition?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo; as a matter of fact I do not think that that is the case.
§ Major ROSSWill the right hon. Gentleman have a look at Brassey's Naval Annual, which knows about the subject, and it will tell him.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe most interesting feature in Brassey's Naval Annual in reference to the question is the condemnation of the 10,000-ton cruisers.