§ 43. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if, before ceding Bouvet Island to Norway and withdrawing British sovereignty, he asked for, and received, guarantees as to future whaling rights for British subjects in this territory: what were these guarantees; and whether His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions were consulted?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; Bouvet Island has never been used as a base by British whalers. As regards the last part of the question, the Dominion Governments have been kept fully informed.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the, right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a possible whaling extension, and how is it that this part of the Empire was given away without any future guarantees for British fishing rights?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThat is a matter on which the Norwegian Government have promised to co-operate with us to the best of their ability.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the Under-Secretary aware that this matter will be of very great importance if the regulation of the capture of whales is never attempted, and is it not a fact that the principal destroyers of whales are the Norwegians? Is not that a fact which has to be borne in mind?
§ Mr. HARRISCan this great Empire not afford to be generous to a small country like Norway?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI am quite sure that in view of our good understanding with the Norwegian Government no difficulty will arise about their cooperation with us.