§ 8. Sir K. WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received replies from the French and Italian Governments in connection with the naval agreement; and whether he is now in a position to make a full statement of the present position?
§ 9. Commander SOUTHBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make regarding the continued negotiations between this country, France and Italy with reference to the naval building programmes of the two latter countries, in view of the breakdown of the agreement supposed to have been reached on the 1st March?
§ Mr. DALTONOn the 4th of May the Italian Government replied to the French memorandum dated the 20th of April. The reply of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom had already been delivered on the 25th of April. There have been no further written communications on the subject, though oral exchanges of view have taken place between the experts. It is possible that the forthcoming meetings at Geneva may provide an opportunity for further discussion. I am not at present in a position to make any further statement.
§ Sir K. WOODCan the hon. Gentleman indicate when he will be able to tell the House the complete position?
§ Mr. DALTONWhen my right hon. Friend returns from Geneva he may have something to add.
§ Commander SOUTHBYHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the statement made by the First Lord of the Admiralty that an agreement had, in fact, been reached on 1st March?
§ Mr. DALTONThat question should be addressed to the Admiralty.
§ Commander SOUTHBYOn a point of Order. May I say that I handed in this question addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty, and that I did not receive any intimation that it had been transferred to another Department. Last week I handed in a question addressed to the Prime Minister, and it was transferred to the Foreign Office, and on that occasion I received no notification of the fact. Are not hon. Member entitled to the courtesy, at least, of some intimation that a question has been transferred from one Department to another?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe rule is, as far as I am aware, that, when a question is transferred from one Department to another, the hon. Member should receive notice of the fact.
§ Commander SOUTHBYAs the hon. Member has in his last reply referred me specifically to the Admiralty, shall I be in order in putting down this question again addressed to the Admiralty?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member is entitled to do that.
| I | ||||||||||||||||
| Great Britain. | U.S.A. | Japan. | France | Italy. | ||||||||||||
| Year of Completion. | Cruisers. | Destroyers and Leaders. | Submarines | Cruisers. | Destroyers and Leaders. | Submarines | Cruisers. | Destroyers and Leaders. | Submarines | Cruisers. | Destroyers and Leaders. | Submarines | Cruisers. | Destroyers and Leaders. | Submarines | |
| 1921 | … | 2 | — | 2 | — | 28 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 8 | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | — |
| 1922 | … | 3* | 2 | — | — | 3 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 11 | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | — |
| 1923 | … | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | 19 | 3 | 7 | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — |
| 1924 | … | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | 8 | 1 | 5 | 7 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | — |
| 1925 | … | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| 1926 | … | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 4 | — | 2 | — |
| 1927 | … | — | 2 | 1† | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 9 | — | 11 | — |
| 1928 | … | 5‡ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | 3 | — |
| 1929 | … | 4 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 4 | — | 4 | 7 | 2 | — | 17 |
| 1930 | … | 3 | 8 | 8 | 4 | — | 2 | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4 | — | 9 | 6 |
| The following vessels, ordered before 1930, are still under construction: | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 6§ | 4 | 10 | — | 3 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 43 | 10 | 11 | 9 | ||
| Authorised or building under 1930–31 Prograramme: | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 9 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 22 | ||
| * Excluding I for Australian Navy. | ||||||||||||||||
| † Excluding 2 for Australian Navy. | ||||||||||||||||
| ‡ Excluding 2 for Australian Navy. | ||||||||||||||||
| § Excluding 2 for Canadian Navy. |
§ Mr. MANDERWould it be true to say that France has backed out of the original agreement?
§ 18. Commander SOUTHBYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the numbers of ships in each of the classes subject to limitation by the London Naval Treaty built by Great Britain, the United States of America, Japan, France, and Italy, respectively, in each year during the years 1921 to 1930, inclusive; the numbers of ships in each category which have been built or authorised under the 1930–31 building programmes of the same Powers; and the figures for the naval expenditure of each of the five Powers for each year during the same period?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Ammon)With the hon. and gallant Member's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPOET two tables giving the information which he desires.
§ Following are the tables: 1171
| II. | ||||||
| — | Great Britain. Expenditures. (net). | U.S.A. Expenditures | Japan. Expenditures. | France Estimates | Italy. Estimates. | |
| £ | $ | Yen. | Francs. | Lire. | ||
| 1921–22 | … | 75,986,141 | 500,175,249 | 483,589,712 | * | * |
| 1922–23 | … | 57,492,389 | 346,092,056 | 373,892,450 | 743,000 000 | 784,319,787 |
| 1923–24 | … | 54,064,350 | 328,211,869 | 275,144,360 | 982,000,000 | 850,986,697 |
| 1924–25 | … | 55,693,787 | 323,940,513 | 248,458,182 | 1,169,000,000 | 997,871,564 |
| 1925–26 | … | 60,004,548 | 317,495,316 | 229,003,163 | 1,345,000,000 | 1,080,968,999 |
| 1926–27 | … | 57,142,862 | 320,553,754 | 237,307,669 | 1,650,000,000 | 1,320,337,588 |
| 1927–28 | … | 58,123,257 | 336,441,214 | 273,536,277 | 2,243,000,()00 | 1,209,822,720 |
| 1928–29 | … | 57,139,146 | 366,443,933 | 268,131,486 | 2,647,000,000 | 1,262,374,991 |
| 1929–30 | … | 55,987,770 | 375,291,828 | 267,665,066 | 2,821,000,000 | 1,232,433,630 |
| 622,000,000† | ||||||
| 1930–31 | … | 52,373,900 (Estimated actual). | 401,000,000 (Ests. approx.) | 262,937,688‡ (Ests) | 3,140,000,000 | 1,575,966,000 |
| * Figures not available. | ||||||
| † Prior to 1930 the financial year was 1st January–31st December. The amount of 622,000,000 francs is for the period 1st January–31st March, 1930, after which the fiscal year was changed to 1st April—31st March. | ||||||
| ‡ It is understood that Japan is to economise on this vote by Yen 20,005,000. |
§ In comparing these figures it should be borne in mind that the Naval Estimates of the various Powers are not comparable.
§ 19. Mr. ROSSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed by the French Government to build any armoured ships in their next programme; and, if so, whether he can give any particulars of the proposed ships?
§ Mr. AMMONAccording to information received, the French Government propose to build one 23,333 ton vessel under the 1931–32 programme. No details of the vessel are at present available.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs this ship part of the unexpended balance of tonnage allowed to France under the Washington Treaty of 1921?
§ Mr. AMMONYes. This is part of the 70,000 tons of capital ships allowed to France under the Treaty.