§ Mr. LINCOLNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His 865 Majesty's Government recognised the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina without the consent of the other signatories of the Treaty of Berlin; if so, how could he explain his statement on the subject made at Wooler on 7th October, 1908; and, if not, would he explain why His Majesty's Government had abandoned the proposal for a European conference?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)His Majesty's Government did not recognise the annexation till the consent of the other signatories of the Treaty of Berlin was forthcoming. Their action has, therefore, been entirely in accord with the speech referred to. The answer to the last question is that His Majesty's Government, while insisting that Treaty alterations must receive the assent of all signatory Powers, were from the first in favour of direct negotiation between the-Powers most closely interested, and they even suggested that matters might perhaps be arranged by other means than a conference, pointing out that they were anxious to see an agreement reached, but were not particular as to the method adopted. The proposal for "some step such as a conference" did not emanate from His Majesty's Government.