§ 38. Mr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a statement of Government policy in connection with the Icelandic fishing dispute and the International Conference on the Law of the Seas.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)The policy of Her Majesty's Government at the Conference is to secure a just and lasting settlement of the question of the breadth of the territorial sea and fishery limits. I hope that such a settlement will bring to an end the fisheries dispute with Iceland and that the generous gesture of good will made by the British fishing industry to suspend fishing in the eaters around Iceland during the period of the Conference will contribute to its success.
§ Mr. OwenDoes not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that rigid adherence to tradition will never help the British fishing industry, or resolve this dispute? Is he aware that Iceland is a friendly Power, is an ally in N.A.T.O. and has an economy almost wholly dependent on fishing, and that by this dispute Iceland is being driven economically and politically into the hands of the Eastern bloc? Will he keep that in mind and use some imagination and statesmanship at the conference discussions in March?
§ Mr. LloydI accept some but not all of the hon. Member's implications. We have tried very hard to come to some kind of compromise agreement with the Iceland Government. We are still trying to do that, and we tried to have an interim agreement during the conference. We failed to do that and now the fishing industry has made a very generous unilateral gesture, and I repeat my hope that that may do something to create a proper atmosphere for a solution.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise even today that he has not put forward the British Government's policy in this matter and that that is the reason why this unfortunate dispute has dragged on from conference to conference, at which Britain has been inadequately represented? Will he consider even now putting forward a concrete policy which the Icelanders can understand and discuss?
§ Mr. LloydI wish that the only thing needed to reach an agreement was for the British Government to put forward a policy. Unfortunately, that is not the case. This is a very difficult matter. The proper time for a policy to be put forward is during the Conference itself.