HC Deb 15 December 1954 vol 535 cc164-5W
135. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Peru arising from the seizure of whaling ships owned by Mr. Aristotle Onassis; and what reply has been received.

Mr. Turton

On 19th November Her Majesty's Ambassador at Lima delivered to the Peruvian Government a Note reserving the right of Her Majesty's Government to support any claims for compensation for damage done to such British interests as might be involved in this incident. The Peruvian Government in their reply declined to accept this reservation. The Peruvian Ambassador was therefore invited to call upon my noble Friend the Minister of State and was asked to inform his Government that we nevertheless reserved our rights to obtain redress by all means open to us. On 6th December Her Majesty's Ambassador made an informal request to the Peruvian Government to postpone the time limit of 7th December fixed for payment of the fine, without prejudice to the eventual liability for payment. The hon. and gallant Member will have noted that this time limit was postponed until 13th December.