HC Deb 20 June 1935 vol 303 cc547-9
46. Mr. E. WILLIAMS

asked the Prime Minister whether the Anglo-German naval construction agreement, which fixes German naval strength at 35 per cent. of the British Navy, is an indication of the Government's intention to arrange bilateral agreements with other States on the regulation of armaments?

The PRIME MINISTER

As stated in the first paragraph of the note which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs addressed to Herr von Ribbentrop on the 18th June, the primary purpose of the conversations with the representatives of the German Government was to prepare the way for the holding of a general conference on the subject of the limitation of naval armaments. The agreement which has been reached furnishes a fixed point of departure for further discussions with other Powers, and does not alter the final objective of the discussions, namely, the ultimate conclusion of a general naval treaty.

Mr. D. GRENFELL

Does the Agreement provide a fixed point of departure? Is it not the case that Germany reserves the right to vary the proportion in case of greater naval armaments by other Powers?

The PRIME MINISTER

I do not think the hon. Member is quite right, if he will look very carefully at the correspondence.

Mr. THORNE

May I ask whether this Anglo-German agreement does not come into direct conflict with the Versailles Treaty, and whether the agreement arrived at on the 3rd February between Italy, ourselves and France will not have to be revised now?

The PRIME MINISTER

I should like notice of that question.

91. Mr. DONNER

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the number of capital ships and cruisers, separately, present at the naval review of 1914; and also the number of capital ships and cruisers, separately, which will be available for the naval review in July, 1935?

The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell)

At the naval review of 1914, 59 capital ships and 54 cruisers were present; at the review in July, 1935, 11 capital ships and 18 cruisers will be present.

Mr. DONNER

Do not those figures show the need of rebuilding the Navy at the earliest possible moment?