§ Mr. JAMES PARKERasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs what steps the Government are taking to maintain as territorial waters the generally acknowledged practical limit of three miles, which, it is feared, if interfered with, wilt curtail the supply of cheap fish as food?
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if he would inform the House what steps the British Government was taking to maintain as territorial waters the generally acknowledged and only practical limit of three miles, which, if interfered with, would curtail the supply of cheap fish as food for the British working classes?
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the suggestion in the latter part of the second question as to the three-mile limit is not generally acknowledged?
§ Sir E. GREYI presume the hon. Members refer to the two Russian Bills, extending the limits of territorial waters along the northern coasts of European Russia and the Pacific coasts of Asiatic Russia to twelve miles in fishery matters. As I informed the hon. Member for North Down on the 16th May, representations on the subject have already been addressed to the Russian Government, to the effect that the three-mile limit cannot be altered without international agreement.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTIn view of the present position, as disclosed the other night in the debate on the Scottish 133 Estimates, may I ask whether His Majesty's Government have any intention of promoting international discussion?
§ Sir E. GREYI cannot answer that offhand; it is a question of general politics.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONHas any reply been received in reference to the matter?
§ Sir E. GREYYes, sir, I have been in communication with the Russian Government, and we are at present discussing with them in what form the matter can be discussed internationally.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of extending our own limit?
§ Sir E. GREYThat scarcely arises on the question.