HC Deb 08 May 1950 vol 475 cc36-8
65. Mr. M. Lindsay

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests he has made to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Government for news of the Grimsby trawler "Etruria," the last news of which was a wireless message that she was being boarded by a Russian crew; and with what result.

Mr. Ernest Davies

I have received no further information since my statement in the House on 5th May, when I reported that His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow had addressed an inquiry to the Soviet Government.

Mr. Lindsay

Is this not a glaring example of what has now become only too apparent—that His Majesty's Government are quite powerless to afford any protection to British nationals behind the Iron Curtain? Is there no action of a retaliatory nature which can be taken? Is there no Soviet ship in a British port at the present time?

Mr. Davies

We have to behave with responsibility in such matters. His Majesty's Ambassador delivered the note to the Soviet authorities only on Friday, and today is Monday, and we consider it is reasonable to allow time for a reply to be received.

Mr. Lindsay

The ship has been there a week.

Mr. Eden

Everybody understands responsibility, but it is, on the face of it, an extremely high-handed action, is it not, for a British trawler to be boarded in this way in a foreign port? In view of that, should not the hon. Gentleman draw the Soviet Government's attention to the fact that such conduct does not promote friendly relations between nations?

Mr. Davies

While I fully agree with what the right hon. Gentleman says, the fact is that this is not an uncommon occurrence. Fishing trawlers in quite a number of parts of the high seas are quite frequently accosted in this manner. In the case of Norway it has been necessary to apply to the International Court at the Hague for certain rulings on the matter.

Mr. E. Fletcher

Could my hon. Friend yet say whether this ship was inside or outside territorial waters?

Mr. Davies

That is something which we are endeavouring to establish, and I might say that two of the trawlers which were in the vicinity when this trawler was arrested are being questioned concerning the facts. One of them is now on its way home. We have failed to contact it by wireless, but as soon as it reaches port, which is expected to be on Wednesday, questions will be asked and we hope then to ascertain more of the facts.

Mr. Eden

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether, meanwhile, there has been any contact between our consular officers and any members of the crew?

Mr. Davies

No. Sir; not to our knowledge, as yet.

Mr. Eden

Would it not be the natural thing to ask for that, which is the normal procedure in these cases?

Mr. Davies

That is what we are trying to do, through the normal channels.

Sir R. Ross

Will the Government resist any pretensions of the Soviet Government that their territorial waters extend beyond the recognised limit of three miles?

Mr. Davies

There is an agreement with the Soviet Government whereby His Majesty's Government do not recognise that territorial waters extend for more than three miles, but so long as a vessel is not within three miles of the Soviet coast, the question of territorial waters would not be relevant.

Mr. Nicholson

The hon. Gentleman used the word "agreement." Does it mean that the Soviet Government accept our contention? Does he mean "agreement"?

Mr. Davies

An agreement is an agreement, and this agreement is recognised by His Majesty's Government and the Soviet Government.

Captain Ryder

Does not this armed boarding of one of our vessels come under Article VI of the Atlantic Pact?

Major Beamish

Is the hon. Gentleman quite clear that the Soviet Government agreed that their territorial waters do not extend for more than three miles? Did they agree or not?

Mr. Davies

The position is that the Soviet Government claim that their territorial waters extend to a 12-mile limit, but because we do not accept that, or have not accepted it in the past, we have an agreement with them that in a case such as we presume is now under consideration it extends to only three miles.

Major Beamish

And they recognise that?