§ 32. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the two aircraft carriers under construction by Germany comply with the armament limitations imposed on this country by the Three-Power Treaty of 25th March, 1936, and accepted by Germany also?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1937 was ratified on 4th November, 1937, and entered into-force on that date. The two aircraft carriers under construction by Germany were laid down in 1936, and are not, therefore, subject to the limitations of that Agreement.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not the case that the Three-Power Treaty prohibits aircraft carriers being armed with more than 10 5.2-inch guns, and that these aircraft carriers are designed with 16 5.9-inch guns?
§ Mr. ShakespeareI think that these aircraft carriers were subject to the limitations of the Washington Treaty, and they were built before the Anglo-German Agreement was made and do not come-within its terms.
§ Sir A. SinclairWere there no negotiations at the time of the Anglo-German Treaty about these two aircraft carriers?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe Agreement referred to future construction.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not perfectly clear that these two aircraft 2127 carriers do, in fact, violate the letter and the spirit of the Anglo-German Agreement?
§ 33. Lieut-Commander Fletcherasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the obligation upon Germany to furnish information regarding the main armament of all warships she lays down was fulfilled as regards the cruisers "Seydlitz" and "L"?
§ Mr. ShakespeareYes, Sir.