§ 105. Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his most recent negotiations with the Icelandic Government over the current fishing dispute.
§ Mr. NuttingAt his request, the Icelandic Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Thors, saw my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 10th December. My right210W hon. Friend suggested that the dispute between the Icelandic Government and the British fishing industry should be referred to the Permanent Commission to be set up under the 1946 Over-Fishing Convention; but Mr. Thors was not willing to accept this suggestion. He made it clear that the Icelandic Government were confident of having acted within their legal rights and did not intend to modify their fishery limits.
Her Majesty's Government are now considering what further steps are open to them to take.