3. Sir GILBERT PARKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state when he expects to be able to lay upon the Table of the House the last Reports received from the British Consular staff in the Congo; and whether the House will be given ample time to study those Reports and the opportunity of discussing them before any definite steps are taken by His Majesty's Government to recognise the Belgian annexation?
§ Sir E. GREYI hope to be able to lay Papers early next year. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs not annexation nevertheless a concrete fact?
§ Sir E. GREYThe situation is as it was. Belgium has taken over the Congo, but we have not yet recognised the annexation.