§ 4. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received a report from the skipper and crew of the trawler "Etruria"; and if he will make a further statement as to the circumstances in which the trawler was boarded by a Russian crew.
§ Mr. YoungerYes. A formal investigation into the arrest of the steam trawler "Etruria" was held in Grimsby on 9th June by an independent board set up by the United Navigation Committee, representing the owners and insurance companies at the port. According to the evidence given by the skipper at the investigation, the trawler when arrested by the Soviet authorities was not within three miles of the Soviet coast; but the board found that the method adopted by the master of the vessel in fixing his position was liable to error. In the circumstances the owners do not propose to appeal against the conviction and sentence.