HC Deb 25 June 1868 vol 192 cc2135-6
MR. DARBY GRIFFITH

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is a cordial understanding between the Protecting Powers and the Porte that the National Assembly of Servia should be left at perfect liberty, on the occasion of the present catastrophe, to take such measures for providing for the succession to the Go- vernment as may appear to be in accordance with the wishes of the people?

LORD STANLEY

Sir, I think the best Answer I can give the hon. Member is, that it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to attempt to influence in any way the Servian Government or the Servian people in the choice of a Prince, so long, of course, as they observe those international obligations into which they have entered; and there is every reason to believe that they intend to do so. I have every reason to suppose, so far as I can judge from anything that has yet reached me, that a similar decision will be come to and a similar course pursued by the other great Powers.