§ 3.53 p.m.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I ask the permission of the House to repeat the Statement which has been made in another place this afternoon by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This is the Statement:
"With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I would like to made a statement about the very regrettable and serious deterioration in the situation concerning our fishing vessels operating in the waters around Iceland.
"As a result of discussions held between my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Icelandic Foreign Minister in New York on September 28, we have been able to clarify the positions of the two sides on a possible interim arrangement. There is indeed a wide gap between us but we feel on the British side that it is still worth while holding further discussions in an attempt to bridge the gap. We informed the Icelandic Government accordingly on October 11.
"On October 16, before any reply had been received, Icelandic gunboats embarked on a course of systematic interference with British vessels. In one case they have fired warning shots and in one case a gunboat attempting to cut the trawl wires of a British vessel collided with it, tearing a hole in the side of the trawler and endangering 2023 the lives of the crew. We shall be claiming compensation.
"I summoned the Icelandic Ambassador yesterday and formally protested at the Icelandic Government's action. I expressed to him the Government's sense of outrage, and that of Parliamentary and public opinion, at this resumption of Icelandic harassment. I made it clear that we reserve the right in the event of further interference to take, without further notice, such measures as we may consider appropriate to protect our vessels. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Reykjavik has spoken in similar terms to the Icelandic Foreign Minister.
"We still believe that it is in the interest of both Governments that discussions should continue and we have had the full support throughout of the trawler owners, skippers and crews in this. But I must make it plain that British vessels must be free from harassment.
"I would emphasise that throughout this unhappy dispute we for our part have acted entirely in accordance with international law and we shall continue to do so.
"In August we obtained an interim order from the International Court under which, and pending the final determination of the proceedings, we are required to observe certain restrictions on our catch in the waters in dispute, while the Government of Iceland are required to refrain from enforcing their regulations against British vessels and from interfering or threatening to interfere with them. The same order calls upon both Governments to avoid action capable of aggravating or extending the dispute. British vessels are fishing around Iceland in accordance with that order and the Government will continue to maintain their right to do so.
"The British Government and the British industry have behaved with great restraint during this dispute. That restraint is still being exercised. There is, I believe, still the opportunity for an early and amicable negotiated arrangement which will be satisfactory to both parties, pending a definite settlement. I must warn the Icelandic 2024 Government that we expect them to show the same restraint."
My Lords, that ends the Statement.
§ LORD HOYMy Lords, we are grateful to the noble Marquess for repeating the Statement made in another place. It is a Statement I am certain that neither House will have liked to hear, because it is a very serious one indeed and I am certain that the Government will do whatever they can to avoid another cod war.
May I ask one or two questions about the Statement? The Minister says:
… we have been able to clarify the position of the two sides on a possible interim arrangement.While there is a wide gap on a definitive statement, can the noble Marquess tell us how wide the gap is between the two Governments on what might be the possible arrangement in the intervening period? This is important. I suppose that it would be asking a little too much to ask what is the "interim arrangement" that has been suggested by the Government, but in any case we should like to know just what differences there may be. The Statement also says:we informed the Icelandic Government accordingly on October 11".We know the action that they took on October 16. Are we to understand that even since that date they have still not replied to the letter from the British Government? While we note that the Government intend to take action I shall press to know what kind of action it is. When one thinks of the great reserve shown in this matter by the British industry it is good to know that the Government intend to protect British vessels, but we should all like to know what measures are proposed. I am sure that everything will be done to protect the lives of British fishermen.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hoy, for his remarks and entirely endorse the last statement he made, about protecting the lives of British fishermen—indeed, this is Her Majesty's Government's prime responsibility. The noble Lord will realise that I cannot give him any details about the negotiations which are proceeding at the present time except to say that, as I am sure he knows, a delegation has been in Iceland very re 2025 cently indeed and talks were progressing in a reasonably satisfactory manner. I am afraid that I cannot go further than that at the present time.
I think it is true to say that there has still been no reply from the Icelandic Government to the letter of October 11, although if I find that I am wrong I will let the noble Lord know.
LORD HENLEYMy Lords, I am very sorry that the Icelandic Government should have embarked on this course of harassment because I feel that it must damage any case they may have. I do not know whether under international law they have a case. While accepting everything that the noble Lord, Lord Hoy, has said about protecting the fishing industry and our fishermen, I feel that it ought to be said that many people nevertheless have some sympathy towards a small country like Iceland, with such very limited means of making their own livelihood.
THE MARQESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think the answer to that is that this is one of the reasons why we want to come to an arrangement with the Icelandic Government which is agreeable to both sides.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, in the light of what happened some years ago in the cod war, and since the International Court found in our favour, do not the Government think that we ought to stop being pushed about and that our Navy should be sent in to protect our trawlers outside the 12-mile limit?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I have given the Government's undertaking that they will certainly take whatever measures are necessary to protect our fishing vessels in this respect.
§ LORD COLERAINEMy Lords, my noble friend, when repeating the Statement which was made in another place, said that we had observed our obligations under international law. I wonder whether he could define those in this respect. Have we the right under international law to protect our fishing vessels who are fishing outside the legal limit of 12 miles? If we have that right, are we exercising it?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, as my noble friend knows, I am no 2026 lawyer; but I think that I should be right in saying that under the interim injunction that we have obtained from the International Court we have the right that he is asking about.
§ LORD HOYMy Lords, is it not the case that on a previous occasion when this dispute was before the International Court and the decision went in favour of Iceland, Iceland was very grateful for the decision and we accepted it? Are we not now simply asking that Iceland should accept a decision from the same Court? While I do not want to widen this particular question, is it not the fact that talk of the limited economic possibilities for Iceland is rather exaggerated and that Iceland and her people at the present time—and we do not complain about it—enjoy just about the highest standard of living inside Europe?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, that is true. Nevertheless, I am sure that the House will wish to see this unhappy dispute satisfactorily concluded.
§ LORD COLERAINEMy Lords, is it not a fact that a very large number of our own people—on the Humber, in Scotland, at Fleetwood and at other fishing ports—depend upon the fishing industry for their livelihood? Should not that be our first consideration?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANCertainly, my Lords.