§ *SIR CHARLES W. DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any information can be placed before the House as to the position of negotiations with Belgium regarding the Congo State, and, in particular, whether the promised reply of His Majesty's Government to the last-published Belgian despatch has been delivered, and, if not, when it may be expected to be sent; and whether the Belgian Government has given any assurance as to radical alteration in the administration of the Congo Territory other than the general 1353 assurance considered insufficient by His Majesty's Government.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOB FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickThe reply of His Majesty's Government to the last published communication from the Belgian Government is still under consideration, and will be decided as soon as possible. No assurances beyond those already published have been received from the Belgian Government.