HL Deb 08 November 1960 vol 226 cc308-9
EARL WINTERTON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government to which Government in the Congo the British Ambassador in that country is accredited.]

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, Her Majesty's Ambassador in Leopoldville is accredited to the Head of State of the Republic of the Congo, and the Head of State is Mr. Kasavubu.

EARL WINTERTON

My Lords, in view of the fact that there is apparently no Government operating in the Congo, to whom does the British Ambassador go when he wants to make representations, and what chance has he of getting those representations listened to by Mr. Kasavubu?

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, Mr. Kasavubu is the authority whose constitutional position is recognised because he is the Head of State of the Congo. As the noble Earl knows, there are Commissioners who are administering the Congo at the present time, numbering, I think, some 30, and on any particular matter it may be necessary to go to one or other of them. But in any representation concerning the whole of the State of the Congo, the Ambassador would have a conversation with the President, who is Mr. Kasavubu.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, in fact there is only one Government which has subjected itself to Parliamentary approval.

EARL WINTERTON

My Lords, it would obviously be improper to pursue this matter further by question and answer. Might I put to the Foreign Secretary this point for his consideration? I do not ask for any answer now. In view of the very serious situation in the Congo, and the fact that Her Majesty's Government must have some responsibility as a member of the United Nations, would the Foreign Secretary consider giving time either for a debate on the Motion which I have on the Paper, or for some occasion when a full statement could be made by Her Majesty's Government?

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, I should certainly like to consider that, and, of course, we are always willing that these matters should be debated by this House. We should have to consider a time which would be most appropriate. Of course, the noble Earl is quite right. The situation is utterly confused in the Congo, and there is no legal Government. It is in the sense that there is no legal Government that I answered the Question to the effect that the Ambassador's dealings would be in the main with the President of the Congo.

EARL WINTERTON

My Lords, I am very much obliged to the Foreign Secretary.