§ 54 and 55. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what communications he has had from the Faroese, Danish and Norwegian Governments about extensions of the territorial fishing limits;
(2) whether he will make a statement about the proposed extension of the Icelandic fishing limits from four to 12 miles.
§ 56. Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the negotiations with the Icelandic and Danish Governments on the proposals to extend the fishing limits to 12 miles round the coasts of Iceland and the Faroes.
Commander NobleIn anaide memoire delivered in London on 27th June, 1957, the Danish Government asked for the revision of the Anglo-Danish Agreement of 22nd April, 1955, about the Faroese fishery limits. On 19th September, 1957, Her Majesty's Government asked the Danish Government to agree to defer any question of the revision of the Agreement until after the Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea. The Danish Government agreed to this.
In a communiqué issued yesterday after discussions with the Faroese authorities, the Danish Government supported the Faroese wish to establish a 12-mile fishery limit. The communiqué added that the Danish Government would be approaching Her Majesty's Government about this. No such approach has yet been made. When it is, Her Majesty's Government will consider it.
My right hon. and learned Friend has received no communication from the Norwegian Government about extensions of their fishery limits. As regards Iceland, Her Majesty's Government are maintaining their efforts to persuade the 83W Icelandic Government that the problem should be solved by negotiation and not by unilateral action.