HC Deb 17 February 1960 vol 617 cc1257-8
4. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Icelandic Government that, during the period of the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Seas, British trawlers should be permitted to fish up to the four-mile limit and British naval protection vessels be withdrawn.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Her Majesty's Government have made repeated suggestions to the Icelandic Government for an interim arrangement on fishery matters pending the outcome of the Conference on the Law of the Sea. I repeated in Paris in December our offer as an interim measure to withdraw our naval protection vessels from within the twelve-mile fishery limit claimed by Iceland if the Icelandic authorities would undertake not to interfere with our fishing vessels between six and 12 miles.

Mr. Wall

While thanking my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply, may I ask him to continue to urge the Icelandic Government to adopt a more reasonable attitude, particularly as we are now approaching the date of the conference, which could get off to a much better start if some such arrangement were made?

Mr. Lloyd

I regard the suggestion as a fair one, because it went two miles beyond the four-mile limit to which my hon. Friend has referred. It is a matter of deep regret that the Icelandic Government have not seen fit to accept it. I still hope that they may change their mind.