§ 42. Mr. Reynoldsasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will instruct the British representative on the Security Council to raise the purchase by the Katanga administration of French-built jet fighter aircraft, as a threat to peace in Africa.
§ Mr. HeathThe Government of France have announced that no such purchase has been made in France. It is, of course, the policy of Her Majesty's Government, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution of 22nd September, that any military assistance to the Congo should be supplied through the United Nations.
§ Mr. ReynoldsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that while no such purchases have been made in France, these planes are alleged to be proceeding through France on their way to the Congo? Will he take steps to get further information and, if necessary, try to take action through the Security Council of the United Nations to avoid the shipment of quantities of modern arms into this area?
§ Mr. HeathWe are not in possession of the information which the hon. Member mentions, but I shall endeavour to find whether what he says is correct.
§ Mr. HealeyIs it not precisely this type of action in the Congo which has led Mr. Hammarskjoeld to say that unless it is stopped he will have to ask for the withdrawal of United Nations forces from the Congo? When are the Government going to open their eyes to the facts of the situation?
§ Mr. HeathThe eyes of Her Majesty's Government are very much open to the facts of the situation. It is a very great over-simplification of the case to say that this was the cause of the Secretary-General's statement on the matter