FISHING FLEETS IN BALTIC

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26121, 25 May 1950, Page 3

FISHING FLEETS IN BALTIC

PROTESTS BY SWEDEN AND DENMARK ACTION BY RUSSIA (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, May 24. “Sweden and Denmark are considering joint action to stop Russian and Polish molestation of their fishing fleets in the Baltic, and to persuade Russia to abide by international law governing the limits of territorial waters,” says the Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” Making this announcement in the Swedish Parliament, the Swedish Foreign Minister (Dr. Osten Unden) described the recent Russian treatment of Swedish fishermen as “an aggressive and flagrant violation of international law.” “The crew of two Swedish fishing vessels which have been seized 15 ana 20 miles off the Russian coast, have been treated like dangerous criminals. They have been held incommunicado for a fortnight under constant interrogation and released only after their catches and their equipment were impounded. On another occasion, a Russian gunboat has pursued, and attempted to board, a Swedish fishing smack, which it intercepted 45 miles from the Russian coast.” Dr. Unden said that, in all, seven protests had been sent to Moscow by the Swedish Government complaining about unnecessary interference with Swedish fishing vessels. The correspondent says that the Danes have suffered even more heavily than the Swedes, and that recently the whole of the Danish Baltic fishing fleet was denied access to Polish harbours. The only clue to the Russian attitude towards the limit of territorial waters is to be found in a Soviet textbook on international law. This claims that “territorial waters extend as far as a state considers necessary for its security.”