§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the findings of the International Court of Justice on the Anglo-Icelandic fisheries dispute.
§ Mr. HattersleyHer Majesty's Government welcome this clear verdict. The ICJ found that Iceland is not entitled unilaterally to exclude British fishermen from the disputed waters or to restrict their fishing activities there. The court also held that Iceland and the United Kingdom are under mutual obligations to84W negotiate in good faith an equitable and definitive solution of their differences. We shall be ready to enter negotiations at the appropriate time. Meanwhile, the Government will continue to respect the interim agreement of 13th November 1973, which was concluded without prejudice to the underlying legal position or rights of either government.
The court reached its decision by a majority of ten to four. However, the minority did not dissent from the proposition that Iceland is not entitled to enforce its claim to a 50-mile fishery zone against the United Kingdom, but considered that the court did not have jurisdiction to make the type of order which it made.