ALMARIA VELLA — His Eminence the Cardenal Marín, in his capacity as Foreign Minister, summoned a second ambassador to the Palacio de Santa Eulalia yesterday afternoon, following further reports of armed exchanges in the contested waters of the southern approaches. The Ministry's communiqué, issued shortly before the evening Angelus, speaks of "grave concern" at unconfirmed accounts of civilian casualties in the fishing villages of the opposite shore, said to number at least a dozen souls.

The Royal Palace, in a brief statement bearing the King's arms, urged "restraint and adherence to existing ceasefire arrangements," and the Herald understands that emergency consultations have continued through the night at the Ministry of External Affairs. The cordon, transferred earlier in the week to the Port Authority, remains in place; fishing traffic out of Sant Joan has been advised to hold to the inner lanes until further notice.

The Cardenal, emerging briefly from the ministerial entrance, declined to be drawn on particulars but offered the assembled press a single sentence: "We are speaking, at length, with those who must be spoken to." The phrase is characteristic of the man and, to those who read him, unusually firm.

The fate of the three correspondents — two of this paper's foreign desk and a freelance colleague — unaccounted for since the interception of the aid flotilla earlier in the week, was raised by the Ministry in both audiences. The Herald is assured that their recovery is pressed at every level and that the Press Freedom Council maintains its vigil at the Ministry's gate.