§ 37. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed to approach the United States of America and the French Governments with a view to gaining freedom to lay down eight-inch gun cruisers before 1942, in view of the fact that German cruisers now being completed are greatly superior to any cruisers we possess or are building?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe German Government was entitled under the Anglo-German Agreement of 1935 to build up to a maximum of five eight-inch gun cruisers. I have no information that this maximum is being exceeded. There are, therefore, at present no grounds for approaching the Powers to whom we are bound by treaty, with a view to our being released from our treaty obligations.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not the case that the five cruisers which are being completed by the German Government are superior to any cruisers that we have afloat or any that we have building at the present moment; and what steps is the Naval General Staff taking to meet that situation?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThat, of course, must be a matter of opinion, but the circumstances as regards the number of German cruisers have not altered as compared with the time when the Anglo-German Naval Agreement was made.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherWill the hon. Gentleman examine the details as to the range and guns of these ships, their underwater protection and their armour? In view of the facts, is it a matter of opinion that these ships are superior to our ships? Is it not clearly the case that they are superior?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe hon. and gallant Gentleman misunderstood my point. I said it was a matter of opinion, and clearly I could not give an answer now; but there 2228 has been no change in the circumstances by which Germany could have one-third of the total tonnage of cruisers.
§ Mr. A. V. AlexanderWould it not be wise not only in view of the point raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, but in view of the fairly substantial information that is now coming through about Japanese building, to obtain the necessary notification from the other parties to enable us to increase our cruiser strength?
§ Mr. ShakespeareAll that I said was that there was no ground at present for breaking the naval holiday in respect of these cruisers, which, on the whole, is of great benefit to the naval Powers that are observing it. We should have to have very strong grounds for seeking to use the escalator clause in order to break this cruiser holiday.
§ Sir A. SinclairThe hon. Gentleman says that there is no change in circumstances, but surely there is a change of circumstances in the denunciation of the Anglo-German Naval Treaty by the German Government? The hon. Gentleman also says that the power of these cruisers as compared with our own is a matter of opinion, but surely it is a matter on which there is only one opinion?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe right hon. Baronet will recall that the German Government have said that they intend to adhere to the policy of the Treaty, which means that the naval holiday in respect of these cruisers will continue.