§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign 832 Affairs whether, in view of the decision of the full bench of the High Court of Justiciary, in August 1906, that trawling inside a line between Duncansby Head and Rattray Head, in the Moray Firth, was by statute illegal, any representations were made by His Majesty's Government to the Norwegian Government in order to avoid the danger of collision between the law of this country and the claims of the Norwegian Government; what was the result of such representations; and whether he was aware of the impending prosecution by the Lord-Advocate of Norwegian trawlers at Elgin on 31st January for offences within these waters.
§ MR. RUNCIMANIt is understood that the Norwegian Government would be willing to discuss arrangements as to trawling in the Moray Firth, but no special representations have yet been made to them as a consequence of the decision referred to in the Question. My right hon. friend was aware generally that the Scottish authorities intended to institute prosecutions to prevent British subjects, as far as possible, from making use of a foreign flag for the express purpose of breaking the law of this country with impunity.