§ 14. Sir T. Mooreasked the Lord Privy Seal the total amount of cash, food, clothing and medical equipment which Her Majesty's Government has supplied for the relief of starvation and distress to the people of the Congo.
§ 34. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the suffering in the Congo and the response by private citizens to the various appeals for aid to the people there, he will substantially increase Her Majesty's Government's grant towards helping the victims of famine in that territory.
§ 39. Mr. Doddsasked the Lord Privy Seal on what basis Her Majesty's Government decided to contribute £5,000 in response to the appeal for emergency aid by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on behalf of the large numbers of starving human beings in the Congo.
§ Mr. HeathSince my statement on 25th January, we have had a report from 577 the member of the Embassy in Leopoldville who has visited the famine area. This indicates that without United Nations assistance South Kasai might have lost up to half its population, but with its assistance there seems every chance that the famine and its effects will be controlled. Ninety-five tons of food are being brought into the area by road and air every day. The food is being distributed by the local Congolese and seeds are being sown.
There is still, however, considerable misery and a high rate of deficiency diseases. But hospitals and dispensaries. of which there are 60, are working and these medical arrangements will, it is understood, be greatly helped by the arrival of tents which we are sending from Kenya as emergency hospital accommodation. It has been difficult to get a reliable figure of the daily number of deaths. It seems that these were never as high as 200 a day, fortunately, and the figure may now be as low as 10–15 a day.
It is estimated that 90 per cent. of refugees (who totalled about 300,000) are being fed regularly, though not all are receiving the prescribed minimum of 1,500 calories. The Congolese Red Cross are organising an effective distribution of milk.
If the first crop, due at the end of April, is successful, it will be possible to reduce the relief operation by approximately 50 per cent. within six months. But there is still much to be done before the United Nations will be able to wind up its relief operation in South Kasai.
§ Sir T. MooreWhile warmly appreciative of the sympathetic and helpful attitude of the Government and of other Governments, may I ask whether, in view of the somewhat horrifying pictures, photographs and reports that have come in to us from the Congo during the last few weeks, we could not possibly do more? If transport is the problem, as was mentioned in the papers today, why is it that the United Nations were able to hire ten American aircraft to take back the United Arab Republic contingent to Cairo? Surely, starvation should be dealt with first. Could we not do it ourselves, if necessary?
§ Mr. HeathI had seen the statement of the secretary of the Oxford Famine 578 Relief Fund about the use of transport and we are making further inquiries to see whether we can assist in that respect, although our transport is already greatly stretched. The allocation of United Nations transport is a matter for the Secretary-General and his representatives.
§ Mr. FernyhoughIn view of the report which the right hon. Gentleman has just given to the House, is he really satisfied that Her Majesty's Government are doing all that they ought to be doing? Is this the way we defend Western values?
Furthermore, when the right hon. Gentleman made his statement last week, was he really being serious when he said that whether we gave the other 2 million dollars of the 5 million dollars that we had promised to the Secretary-General's Fund depended upon the response of others? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this House and the whole country would like the Government to show an example to the rest of the world of how we love our fellow man?
§ Mr. HeathThat is exactly what we have done. We have shown an example to the rest of the world by making, proportionately, such a large sum available to the United Nations as the 3 million dollars which has been paid and the 2 million dollars which has been promised. As I said last Wednesday, however, we are entitled to say to the United Nations that in an operation of this kind we expect others to make a contribution to it. We have made a considerable contribution from the point of view of transport in finding where food was available and helping to transport it and in the specific donation which we gave in answer to the request for seed for sowing. As I have told the House, that operation is now completed.
§ Sir C. TaylorIs my right hon. Friend aware that many private individuals and firms would support him in this appeal for foodstuffs, medical supplies and clothing, provided that the appeal came from the Government and provided that those individuals and firms were satisfied that the supplies went to the people who really needed them and not, as sometimes has happened, into the black market?
§ Mr. HeathIn this country, these funds are usually organised by voluntary 579 organisations, and Her Majesty's Government have complete confidence in the Red Cross and the Oxford Fund for carrying out this work.
§ 35. Mr. Brockwayasked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will instruct the United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations to propose an extension of the terms of reference of the United Nations intervention in the Congo so as to include initiatives for a political settlement by the release of Patrice Lumumba and other political prisoners, the reassembly of the elected Parliament with the right to appoint a Government, the summoning of a representative constitutional conference to determine the relationship between the regions and the centre, and the disarmament of the rival armies.
§ 8. Mr. P. Williamsasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a further statement about the situation in the Congo.
§ 47. Mr. Swinglerasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose that the United Nations should take steps to secure the release of political prisoners in the Congo before the opening of the forthcoming round-table conference.
§ 48. Mr. Dribergasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose in the United Nations action designed to ensure the strengthening of the United Nations forces in the Congo, the disarming of irregular troops including the Congolese National Army, the expulsion of Belgian officers and other ranks, and all other foreign troops, other than those of the United Nations, and the liberation of all Congolese political prisoners, including_ Mr. Patrice Lumumba.
§ 52. Mr. S. Silvermanasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement to the House concerning the forthcoming round table conference on the Congo; and what information he has as to whether the Prime Minister of the Congo will be able to attend.
§ 54. Mr. Dribergasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose in the United Nations that representations be made to President Kasavubu urging him to invite to the Congo round table conference, representatives of the various political, regional and tribal groups, and, in parti- 580 cular, urging the attendance of Mr. Patrice Lumumba and his main supporters.
§ 55. Mr. Parkinasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose in the United Nations that representations be made to President Kasavubu urging him to include Mr. Lumumba among those invited to attend the Congo round table conference.
§ Mr. HeathSince the House adjourned for the Christmas recess, the situation in ',he Congo has radically changed. Mr. Gizenga and his supporters in Stanleyville have succeeded, by means of kidnapping the provincial authorities there, in establishing some control over the Kivu Province. They have also attempted to assert themselves in the northern part of the Katanga Province, in violation of a United Nations ban on troop movements in that area.
There have been widespread reports of arbitrary and violent action and threats against Europeans in the Kivu and Orientale Provinces. In view of these, Her Majesty's Government have made representations to the United Nations authorities both in Leopoldville and in New York about the safety of British subjects. We have received assurances from them that they will do all in their power to afford protection to British subjects. Our Ambassador at Leopoldville has meanwhile made arrangements for the evacuation of British subjects, should this become necessary.
I do not propose in answer to this Question to deal with the famine situation in South Kasai about which I made a full statement to the House on 25th January. There are also further Questions down on the Order Paper.
The difficulties of the United Nations force in the Congo have been increased by the decision of some countries to withdraw their contingents from the United Nations force. I hope that, if this should happen, the Secretary-General will be able to replace them from other sources.
Since early January the United Nations Conciliation Commission has been in the Congo and they have held talks both with President Kasavubu and M. Tshombe. Her Majesty's Government hope that the Commission will help the Congolese to bring about a solution of 581 their problems. In this context, Her Majesty's Government welcome the attempt by the President of the Congo to convene a conference of political leaders from the various provinces to work out a solution to internal difficulties. The question of who should be invited to it is a matter for the President to decide, though Her Majesty's Government hope that it will be as widely supported as possible. Preliminary meetings, to arrange for the full conference, opened in Leopoldville on 25th January.
In Her Majesty's Government's view, these internal problems are matters which the Congolese should settle for themselves. We shall ourselves continue to give full support to the United Nations effort.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the Lord Privy Seal aware of the great anxiety which many Members have lest the United Nations effort in the Congo may came to naught? Is it not the case that whilst the United Nations is correct in saying that it does not want to intervene in internal affairs on one side or the other, in effect its policy since the recognition of Mr. Kasavubu by the United Nations has been to support one side against the other? L there going to be any hope of a political settlement in the Congo unless Mr. Lumumba is released and unless an elected Parliament is able to meet freely and fully?
§ Mr. HeathIt will indeed be a serious situation if the United Nations effort in the Congo breaks down. On the other hand, if the United Nations were to try to impose its will by force in the Congo it would obviously become an even more serious situation in many respects. As far as the constitutional authority is concerned. the United Nations accepted the authority of Mr. Kasavubu, and I think it is helpful that there should be an accepted constitutional authority in the Congo. What we hope is that as a result of the round-table conference which he is trying to bring about, it will be possible to follow up with other constitutional developments so far as the provinces, the constitution, the Government and the assembly of Parliament are concerned.
§ Mr. SwinglerWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that if there is 582 to be conciliation in the Congo, which we all want to see successfully brought about, and if there is to be a round-table conference representative of all political forces in the Congo, which is an indispensable condition, there should be a release of political prisoners before this conference is convened? Otherwise it is inevitable that its success and development will be jeopardised. In particular, the only man who has a constitutional claim to the premiership of the Congo should be at the conference and represented.
§ Mr. HeathSo far as political prisoners are concerned, in the hon. Gentleman's terms, there are, so to speak prisoners on both sides. Her Majesty's Government made their position absolutely plain in the resolution that we sponsored at the United Nations, that there should he no detention or ill-treatment and that all this should be done within the rule of law.
§ Mr. DribergIn view of what the right hon. Gentleman has just said, may I ask him whether he has any comment to make on the removal of Mr. Lumumba to Elizabethville and the disgraceful way in which he was maltreated and beaten up on the way? Does he realise that Mr. Lumumba is still supported by large numbers of Congolese people who regard him as their only legal Prime Minister, and that the round-table conference would be utterly futile and dangerous if he were not present at it?
§ Mr. HeathThe matter of detention in the Congo is one for the authorities in the Congo. Her Majesty's Government deplore ill-treatment throughout the Congo.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanHas not the United Nations a direct interest in seeing that this conference, when it is held, should reach a settlement satisfactory to all the contending parties? Does the right hon. Gentleman see any hope whatever of such a result if the Prime Minister, Mr. Lumumba, were actively prevented from attending it by either Colonel Mobutu who usurped military authority, or Mr. Tshombe who usurped authority in Katanga, by forcibly detaining him? Would not the result of that be to render the whole conference abortive, and, therefore, ought not the United Nations to do at any rate something to 583 see that the conference shall be attended by all those whose contributions are necessary in order to reach a satisfactory solution?
§ Mr. HeathThe United Nations is represented on the spot by the Conciliation Commission, which is certainly acting energetically. I also understand that invitations were sent to the representatives of Mr. Lumumba in the Provinces.
§ Mr. FellAs to the ban on the movement of troops to which my right bon Friend referred, can he tell me whether the United Nations has now lifted the ban on the movement by aircraft of troops in Katanga by Mr. Tshombe?
§ Mr. FellIn that case, will my right hon. Friend apply pressure to the United Nations for the immediate lifting of the ban?
§ Mr. HealeyWould not the Lord Privy Seal agree that Mr. Lumumba, whatever his legal claims to be Prime Minister, is a personality ofalmost unique importance in the Congo situation? [Laughter.] Certainly; there is no doubt whatever about that. Secondly, would he not agree that one of the reasons for the present unhappy situation in the Congo is the progressive estrangement between a majority of the United Nations and an important group of States in Africa and outside concerning the precise status of Mr. Lumumba? Can the Lord Privy Seal say whether Her Majesty's Government are undertaking any action to end this estrangement?
§ Mr. HeathIt is, as I have already stated, an internal matter of the Congo. The President of the Congo in the past has stated the charges on which Mr. Lumumba was being hold. Her Majesty's Government regret the action taken by the States which wish to withdraw from the United Nations position in the Congo. Our view is well known.
§ Mr. DribergIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the situation in the Congo is gravely aggravated by the presence of fairly large numbers of Belgian military personnel—
§ Mr. Driberg—it is perfectly true—especially serving with Mr. Tshombe in 584 Katanga? Can he take any initiative in the United Nations to secure their with drawal? Also, in view of the sharp change in the situation to which the right hon. Gentleman referred in his opening answer, will he consult with the Leader of the House about the possibility of an early debate on the Congo?
§ Mr. HeathAs to the last part of the supplementary question, I will see that the hon. Gentleman's remarks are brought to the notice of the Leader of the House. The resolution of the United Nations about the introduction of troops or weapons into the Congo from outside is quite clear. On the other hand, where provincial authorities have been recruiting their own troops from outside, from other places in addition to Belgium, that position is quite different.
§ 49. Mrs. Hartasked the Lord Privy seal what proposals Her Majesty's Government have made in the United Nations for a protest to be sent to President Kasavubu concerning the ill-treatment and imprisonment of Mr. Lumumba and what proposals Her Majesty's Government have made designed to secure his immediate relase.
§ Mr. HeathOur representative at the United Nations sponsored in the Security Council last month a resolution which sought to censure any violation of human rights or any measures contrary to the recognised rules of law and order in the Congo. This resolution was, regrettably, vetoed by the representative of the Soviet Union.
§ Mrs. HartIs it not essential not only for the future of stability in the Congo but for the future of the United Nations and its prestige in the world that every effort should be made to ensure that the discussions about to take place in the Congo represent every shade of opinion there in order that they may lead to a successful conclusion?