HC Deb 20 March 1963 vol 674 cc361-3
6. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government will now raise in the United Nations Security Council as a threat to peace the training in the ex-Belgian Congo of private armies headed by Holden Roberto and Mario Andrade and estimated at 25,000 troops, with the object of the armed invasion of neighbouring African territories.

Mr. Heath

No, Sir.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that is a disappointing Answer? Does he recall the frightful consequences of the last invasion of Portuguese territory from across the Congo frontier? Has any British diplomatic or consular representative been to Brazzaville to see for himself? Does my right hon. Friend think that what is going on there is compatible with the Congo Republic's membership of the United Nations?

Mr. Heath

I understand that some members of the Angola Nationalist Movement are being trained as my hon. Friend has described, but I do not think that the information we have justifies the figures mentioned in his Question. I do not think there is any question of a threat to British territory as a result of this. If there were a threat to Portuguese territory as my hon. Friend suggests, the initiative would rest with the Portuguese Government.

Mr. Brockway

Will the Lord Privy Seal also bear in mind resolutions adopted by committees of the United Nations regarding the administration of these territories by Portugal?

Mr. Heath

That is quite a separate question from the training of the Angola Nationalist Movement in the Congo.

Mr. Hastings

Will my right hon. Friend tell us about the instruction which it has been said has been carried out by Algerians in this area and also gun running on a large scale?

Mr. Heath

I have not the detailed information for which my hon. Friend asks.

7. Mr. Hastings

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made since the latest agreement between the Leopoldville Government and Mr. Tshombe, to establish the Thant plan for a Congo Federation; and what information he has about the recall of Parliament in Leopoldville.

17. Mr. Taverne

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement about the extent of the co-operation between the Central Government of the Congo and the Provisional Government of South Katanga on the national reconciliation plan.

26. Mr. Fell

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made in implementing the Thant plan for the Congo.

Mr. Heath

There have been no major developments in these matters since the reply which I gave on 13th March to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson).

Mr. Hastings

Is my right hon. Friend aware that proposals put forward, notably on 29th January last, by Mr. Ileo in Elisabethville for the reorganisation of the Congo Republic go even further in centralism than the loi fondamentale? Will he urge the United Nations and United States officials in the Congo—who seem to have such influence over the United Nations—to apply the U Thant plan?

Mr. Heath

Her Majesty's Government have always been in support of the U Thant plan and have indicated this very clearly in the United Nations and to the Government of the Congo in Leopoldville. The content of the constitution is a matter which must be settled in the Congo. I understand that the draft constitution is being put before the Assembly.

Mr. Taverne

Has the Minister had any information whether the Central Government of the Congo are satisfied with the progress being made and with the cooperation they are getting from the Provincial Government?

Mr. Heath

I do not know whether the Government are satisfied or whether any Government are ever satisfied, but I believe it is the view of the Government at Leopoldville that there is co-operation between themselves and Mr. Tshombe, and that is also the view of the United Nations.

Mr. Fell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that developments are confirming the worst fears we have expressed in the past? Will he particularly, on a specific point, press for an inquiry into the behaviour of the Ethiopian troops in Elisabethville, where I hear that Katangese are now frightened to go to work after 12 midday, by which time the Ethiopians are mostly drunk—[HoN. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—and completely out of the control of their officers? The Katangese are afraid to stay at work. Will my right hon. Friend ask for an inquiry?

Mr. Heath

If my hon. Friend has detailed information of that kind, I shall certainly have inquiries made about it.