Mr. Amery made a statement on the Navy Estimates in
the House of Commons on Thursday, March 16th. He declared that before the Washington Conference the Admiralty could not recommend a reduction of more than £4,600,000. As the result of the Conference the Admiralty had been able to propose a further reduction of £15,200,000, less about £3,000,000 which would be required to pension the surplus officers and men. The Admiralty could not reduce the Navy still further without abandoning our equality in naval power with America. The Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets were at the lowest possible strength consistent with the needs of tactical training, and only forty destroyers would be kept in commission. Sir Reginald Hall proposed that the Naval Air Service should be given back to the Navy, but he withdrew his motion when Mr. Chamberlain announced that the Committee of Imperial Defence had reported against the proposal. Mr. Chamberlain added that, while the Government had not considered the Geddes Committee's scheme for a Ministry of Defence, they would inquire into the possi- bility of amalgamating the " ancillary departments " of the three Services.
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