§ 79. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what countries, apart from Panama, have decided unilaterally to extend their territorial waters beyond the three mile limit; what representations he has made to these countries in respect of British interests affected; and with what result.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreIt is not possible without considerable research to give full details of all the claims for a territorial sea in excess of the three-mile limit as such claims date back to 1830 at least. I can assure the hon. Member, however, that it is the established practice of Her Majesty's Government to make representations in every case.
35WAt the United Nations General Assembly in 1958 a general understanding was reached that Governments should not take any action likely to prejudice the success of the Second United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, due to be held in 1960. Since then the Governments of Panama, Iran and Libya have decided unilaterally to extend their territorial sea beyond the three-mile limit. Representations have been made in each case and Her Majesty's Government have deprecated the breach of the general understanding reached at the United Nations.
Of the three, Iran has responded by undertaking to accept any other limit that may be decided at an international conference and accepted by her neighbours.