HC Deb 26 June 1935 vol 303 cc1073-5
4. Mr. COCKS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the conclusion of the Anglo-German naval agreement will remove the objection to granting licences to British armament firms for the export of naval arms and munitions to Germany, or whether this must await the negotiations of the general settlement foreshadowed in the declaration of 3rd February and the establishment of an armaments agreement to replace Part V of the Treaty of Versailles?

Sir S. HOARE

The provisions of the Treaty of Versailles regarding the import of war material of all kinds into Germany remain, so far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, entirely unaffected by the recent exchange of notes between His Majesty's Government and the German Government regarding the future limitation of the German Navy.

5. Mr. COCKS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the validity of the Anglo-German naval agreement is dependent upon the con- clusion of a general armaments agreement between all the countries concerned to replace Part V of the Treaty of Versailles and the return of Germany to the League of Nations as laid down in the Anglo-French Declaration of 3rd February?

Sir S. HOARE

No, Sir. As stated in the exchange of notes, the agreement came into force on the date of signature. The conclusion, however, of a general armaments agreement to replace, so far as Germany is concerned, Part V of the Treaty of Versailles remains the object of His Majesty's Government's policy. Further, as stated in the exchange of notes, His Majesty's Government believe that the Anglo-German agreement will facilitate the conclusion of a general agreement on the subject of naval armaments.

Mr. COCKS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the treaty obligations of Germany cannot be cancelled by one country alone, as it is proposed to do by this agreement?

Sir S. HOARE

I have already answered supplementary questions on similar lines. I have nothing to add to what I said the other day.

18. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state, in connection with the Anglo-German naval agreement, whether any proposal was made by either side that the arrangement should be on the basis of the existing navy permitted to Germany by the Treaty of Versailles; and whether there is anything contained in the treaty which would prevent a reduction to this level?

Sir S. HOARE

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The basis on which the agreement was discussed and concluded will be found in article 2 (a) of the exchange of notes. With regard to the second part of the question, I presume the hon. Member is referring to the exchange of notes of 18th June. This exchange of notes contains nothing which would prevent further naval reductions in the future by general agreement.

Mr. MANDER

Do I understand that at the present time the British Government are unwilling to come down to the basis of the Treaty of Versailles in Germany's case?

Sir S. HOARE

No, Sir. We are anxious that reductions should be considered everywhere. The reduction, however, must depend upon its being general.

21. Mr. COCKS

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the course of the naval conversations with Germany, any information was given as to the number of submarines already built or under construction in Germany in addition to the 12 announced in April last?

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

Since these conversations were confidential, I am afraid that I can add nothing at present to the statement I made on the 21st June in reply to the question by the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall).

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