§ 11. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that, in accordance with Article 18 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, no treaty or international engagement is binding until registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations, the Anglo-German Agreement has yet been so registered?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs I informed the House on the 17th July, the exchange of notes between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the German Government regarding the limitation of naval armaments was registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations on the 12th July.
§ 17. Brigadier-General SPEARSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that on 1st May the official information in his possession was that, as the result of extensive preparations, the first German submarines would probably be completed within six months, whereas it is now officially stated that two German submarines are now afloat and a further 26 are ready on the stocks or will be laid down this year, he is satisfied with the sources from which he draws his information; and whether he is considering means of placing more reliable information before the House in future?
The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)The information in my possession has been correctly stated by my hon. and gallant 1817 Friend, except that one submarine has been commissioned and two others launched. All my information has been derived from the German Government. As a result of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, Germany is prepared, from now onwards, to exchange on a reciprocal basis with other naval Powers particulars in regard to dates of laying down and characteristics of future warships, even in advance of the conclusion of a general Naval Treaty. This procedure, which was not in force on the 1st May, should provide the information which my hon. and gallant Friend desires.