§ 67 and 68. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he is aware that the problems involved in Great Britain's dispute with Iceland about territorial waters is scheduled for consideration by the United Nations Conference on Sea Limits in 1960, and that the intervening period may be fraught with danger and with loss to the fishing industry, to fish distributors and to consumers; and if he will take steps to seek agreement to have the relevant problems heard and determined at an earlier date;
75W(2) if he will make a further statement on the fisheries dispute between Great Britain and Iceland, indicating what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken during the last two months to bring an end to this dispute and with what results.
§ Mr. R. AllanHer Majesty's Government would have preferred the second Conference on the Law of the Sea to be held at an earlier date and had themselves proposed that it should take place in 1959. The majority view at the United Nations General Assembly, however, was that the Conference should not be convened until March or April, 1960. Her Majesty's Government accepted with regret the view of the majority.
With regard to the dispute with Iceland, Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly made clear their readiness to accept interim arrangements pending the outcome of the next Conference on the Law of the Sea. The Government of Iceland have unfortunately not been able to accept any of the proposals which have been made. Her Majesty's Government remain ready to make suitable interim arrangements to reduce the risk of incidents off Iceland.