§ 1. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the instructions of the British Government to the British delegates attending an international Conference at Christiania in 1901 with respect to fisheries stated that the consideration of the subject would admit of no delay and directed the British delegates to press on their foreign colleagues the importance of entering at once upon the pursuit of investigations calculated to lead to an international agreement; and whether, having regard to the lapse of twelve years and the acquisition during that period of fuller knowledge, he will consider the desirability of convening an international conference to consider the subject of fishery regulation and to settle the general principles governing the international questions of maritime dominion in time of peace?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)The matter which the British delegates were instructed to press upon the notice of the conference at Christiania in 1901 was the investigation of the question whether the supply of fish in the North Sea was decreasing. The international council which was subsequently established for the investigation of the facts bearing on this question, is still actively engaged. A reference to the various reports published by that body will show that a large amount of valuable information has been accumulated. I am advised, however, that these investigations have not yet reached a stage at which an international agreement would be rendered possible.