SEIZURE OF TRAWLER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27386, 11 May 1950, Page 7

SEIZURE OF TRAWLER

Retaliation Demanded SOVIET’S “ HIGH-HANDED ” ACTION LONDON. May 9. Retaliation for the seizure by the Russians of the Grimsby trawler Etruria, of 373 tons, was demanded during question time in the House of Commons. Mr Ernest Davies, Foreign Undersecretary, replying to Mr Martin Lindsay (Conservative), said he had received no further information about the fate of the trawler since he announced last Friday that inquiries about the matter were being made in Moscow by the British Ambassador to the Soviet Union. Mr Lindsay: Is not this a glaring example of what has become only too tragically apparent—that the Government is quite powerless to afford any protection to British nationals behind the Iron Curtain? Is there no action of a retaliatory nature that can be taken? Is there no Soviet ship in a British port at this moment? Mr Davies: The Ambassador only delivered our inquiry to the Soviet authorities on Friday, and we consider it reasonable to allow time for a reply to be received. Mr Anthony Eden: Is it not an extremely high-handed action that a British trawler should be boarded in this way? Will the Minister bring to the attention of the Soviet that such conduct cannot promote friendly relations?

Mr Davies said that, while he agreed with what Mr Eden had said, it was a common occurrence for fishing boats in many parts of the high seas to be accosted in this manner.