§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian Government notified His Majesty's Government by wireless that fishing within 12 miles of the coasts of North Russia was prohibited; when this notification was received; and what steps were taken to inform British fishermen of this notification and the consequent peril to fishing vessels trawling off the coasts of North Russia?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Monsieur Tchitcherin's wireless communication reached His Majestys Government through the Soviet Delegation in London in May, and the text of the Soviet Decree in June. His Majesty's Government protested, stating their inability to recognise any extension of territorial waters beyond the three-mile limit. Nevertheless, notices were circulated in each case by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries through the British Trawlers' Association.