§ 5. Lieut.- Commander FLETCHERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any state-merit of the negotiations initiated by His Majesty's Government on the renewal of Article 19 of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, with regard to the maintenance of the status quo in the matter of fortifications and naval bases in the Pacific?
§ Mr. EDENI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on 18th November to a similar question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander). I have at present nothing further to add.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the short time now remaining, will not my right hon. Friend press the Japanese Government to give an answer at the earliest possible moment? Are we to understand that no reply has been received from the Japanese Government?
Mr. ALEXANDERIs not this all the more important in view of the Japanese-German agreement? Ought we not to know exactly where we stand?
§ Mr. EDENI can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are fully alive to the importance of this matter.