§ 90. Mr. EMMOTTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the official German naval gazette states that Germany has 36 German submarines built and building, whereas her declared programme represented 28 as the maximum German submarine strength for the financial year 1935–38; and whether he can give details of these additional eight new submarines?
Lord STANLEYYes, Sir; Germany is under no obligation to declare a programme, and the figure of 28 merely represents the figure which Germany was prepared to publish last December; but the Admiralty have no reason to believe that Germany's naval construction is not within the limits laid down in the AngloGerman Naval Agreement. I regret that I am unable to give the details asked for in the last part of the question.
§ Sir RONALD ROSSHas my Noble Friend any information as to the average size of these submarines—whether their average is smaller or larger than ours?
§ 92. Mr. LENNOX-BOYDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, according to the official German naval gazette, a cruiser has recently been laid down in addition to the two 8-inch gun cruisers building under Germany's declared programme; and whether he is able to state whether this ship is to be armed with 6-inch guns or 8-inch guns?