HC Deb 29 June 1876 vol 230 cc623-4
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I wish to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister of which I was unable to give Notice, but which probably he may be able to answer without Notice. I wish to ask him, Whether he is able to state that the Government has received any news respecting the intended declaration of war by Servia?

MR. DISRAELI

No, Sir. We have not received any information, and I believe I may venture to say that the Servian troops have not crossed the frontier. We have, within an hour of the House meeting, received news from Belgrade—from our Consul, a man of considerable information and ability—and it appeared that nothing of the kind contemplated in the Question of the noble Lord had then occurred. Still, Prince Milan had repaired to headquarters. That is all the information we have received. At the moment that news left, within a few hours, certainly the Servian troops had not crossed the frontier.