Sir SEYMOUR KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affair whether His Majesty's Government still decline to recognise any claims on the part of Russia to exercise jurisdiction over British vessels beyond the three-mile limit; whether he is aware that the fresh claim on the part of the Russian Government to advance the line south of which fishing is prohibited twelve miles northward would result in the confiscation of the best fishing ground in these seas and ruin the industry of eighty Hull trawlers; and whether he will resist by every means in his power this attempted extension of jurisdiction beyond any limit recognised by international law?
§ Sir E. GREYWith regard to the first and third parts of the hon. Member's question, I am not aware that the Russian Government have put forward any definite claim to exercise jurisdiction over British vessels beyond the generally recognised territorial limits, except for purposes of Customs administration, and in the White Sea. As regards the second part of the question, the release of the "Onward," which has been officially announced by the Russian Government, shows that they do not assert the claim.