§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can, without detriment to the public service, inform the House if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to return an answer to Prince Gortchakoff's Circular to the Great Powers?
§ MR. BOURKEIn answer, Sir, to the Question of the hon. Baronet, I have to state that it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to reply to the Circular of Prince Gortchakoff, but the date at which that reply will be sent will depend upon the course of events. In the first place, a change of Government has taken place in Constantinople. In the second place, negotiations at this moment are going on between Turkey on the one hand, and Servia and Montenegro on the other, for the restoration of peace. Thirdly, as a matter of European interest, it is desirable that before Her Majesty's Government have expressed their own views they should know something of the views entertained by the other Courts of Europe.