5. Mr. LAWasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that three British trawlers, "Esquimaux," "Arkwright," and "Bunsen" have been molested by Norwegian gun-boats on the high seas outside of the red line; and whether, in view of the agreement come to between His Majesty's Government and the Norwegian Government, His Majesty's Government propose to take steps either to secure enforcement 5 of the agreement or, alternatively, to afford protection to British vessels on the high seas?
§ Mr. EDENI have seen copies of the statements by the skippers of these three trawlers in which they complained that Norwegian gun-boats have interfered with their fishery operations outside the "red line," which is the provisional limit observed in practice by British trawlers and by the Norwegian authorities since 1925. His Majesty's Minister at Oslo has been instructed to ask for information from the Norwegian Government regarding these incidents and to add that if the "red line" were not to be adhered to, a new situation would arise rendering it difficult to continue the negotiations at present in progress for a general settlement of the whole controversy.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether fishery cruisers are working in those waters?