Minister Wilson to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]

Minister for foreign affairs of Belgium called on me yesterday for the purpose of expressing his views relative to the possible effect of the Lodge resolution now before the Senate. Having expressed a desire that his observations should be transmitted by telegram to Washington, I requested a memorandum on the subject. This he gave me, and it is as follows:

The Belgian Government having learned that the vote on the Lodge resolution is represented in the United States as being conducive to the immediate annexation of the Kongo by Belgium, the minister for foreign affairs, in a private conversation, has thought it expedient to call the attention of Mr. Wilson unofficially to the declarations of the Cabinet and of the leaders of the different political parties during the last discussion in the Chamber of Representatives on the Kongo question, according to which Belgium affirmed its intention to decide the question of annexation after a thorough examination of the subject and in the free exercise of its independence and autonomy.

Wilson.