§ 4. Rear-Admiral BEAMISHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now state the scope and object of the recent conversations at Geneva, Rome, and Paris between Mr. Craigle, of the Foreign Office, and the Italian and French authorities; what proposals was Mr. Craigle authorised to present; and what is the result of these talks?
Mr. A. HENDERSONMr. Craigle proceeded to Geneva and subsequently to Rome and Paris to be present at informal conversations with French and Italian experts. The object of these conversations was to seek a basis for a naval agreement, in which His Majesty's Government are naturally interested by reason of Article 21 of the London Naval Treaty. As these informal discussions have not yet been concluded, I am not in a position to give any details at the present time.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHCan the right hon Gentleman say whether the other signatories to the treaty, the United States and Japan, have been consulted and have taken part in the negotiations?
Mr. HENDERSONNo, they have not taken part up to now. As I say, they are really informal conversations which are going on between experts.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHWill the right hon. Gentleman, when the negotiations have been completed, let the House have them in the form of a White Paper or something which is official?
Mr. HENDERSONThat is a matter which I shall have to consider when I see what are the results of the negotiations.
§ Captain EDENAre we to understand that those negotiations are now proceeding, and may we understand that the right hon. Gentleman is not satisfied with the present unsatisfactory position?
Mr. HENDERSONIt all depends what the hon. and gallant Member means by "now proceeding." They have not entirely been broken off. They have been suspended during the time the League has been engaged on its work, but, in a general way, yes, they are continuing.
§ Commander SOUTHBYCan the right hon. Gentleman say if the United States and Japan have been officially informed that these negotiations have been going on?
Mr. HENDERSONNo, I would rather have notice of the question, if I have to give a more definite answer than that which I have already given.
24. Vice - Admiral TAYLORasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement as to the present French destroyer building programme?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. A. V. Alexander)Six flotilla leaders were included in each of the building programmes for 1927, 1929 and 1930. None of these vessels has yet been completed. The latest French destroyers built belong to the 1926 programme.
Vice-Admiral TAYLORAre they not building six destroyers of 2,440 tons displacement and 5.5 inch guns?
§ Mr. ALEXANDERThat is nothing new. It has been under our consideration the whole time, and it is still before us in the negotiations which are taking place.
§ 29. Commander SOUTHBYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement as regards the number of cruisers and destroyers proposed to be laid down under the Italian naval building programme?
§ Mr. ALEXANDERThe number of cruisers and destroyers to be laid down under the Italian 1930–31 programme are:
Cruisers (10,000 tons) 1 Cruisers (5,000 tons) 2 Destroyers 4
§ Captain EDENWas that programme discussed in London?
§ Mr. ALEXANDERThe 1931 programme was not announced until late in April last year, in the case of Italy.