AGREEMENT WITH SOVIET

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 984, 29 May 1930, Page 11

AGREEMENT WITH SOVIET

NEW PROTOCOL DEFINES FISHING RIGHTS CONVENTION LATER British Official Wireless RUGBY, Tuesday. Britain and Russia have reached an agreement in regargd to fisheries, which is to come into force immediately, and is to serve as a modus vivendi pending the conclusion of a formal convention. The agreement permits British fishermen to fish at a distance of three to 12 geographical miles from low water mark along the north coast of Russia, and the islands dependent on Russia, and permits British fishing boats to navigate and anchor in all waters near those coasts. There are special provisions for fishing In bays and in the White Sea. Nothing in the agreement is to prejudice the views held by either Government as to the limits in international law of territory waters. There are two protocols, one providing that the agreement shall not entitle British fishing boats to navigate in Russian inland or other waters which may he closed to foreign vessels generally. The other protocol is to the effect that the British Government shall adhere to its views as to the right of British fishing boats to fish in waters to which the temporary agreement does not apply. It reserves the right to reopen the question of limits specified when the negotiations for a formal convention take place.