§ 3.5 p.m.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, perhaps it would be for the convenience of the House if I tell your Lordships the answer to a Private Notice Question which is being given by the right honourable gentleman the Prime Minister in another place. The Question dealt with two subjects: the position of British subjects in the Congo, and the approaches which have been made by the Province of Katanga to Her Majesty's Government for assistance. The Prime Minister said:
"I share the anxiety of the House for the safety of British subjects. I am therefore glad to be able to say that there are no reports whatever of injury to British subjects or indeed to any Commonwealth citizens.
"Communications have naturally been difficult but the Foreign Office have been able to maintain contact with our Ambassador in Leopoldville and our Consul in Elisabethville. In Leopoldville most wives and children of British subjects had crossed out of the Congo to Brazzaville by the 8th of July. Since then the situation in Leopoldville has improved. As regards the Katanga Province, Her Majesty's Consul in Elisabethville broadcast on the evening of the 8th of July advising British subjects to leave for the Federation. All British subjects from Elisabethville have now left and it is believed that most of those elsewhere in Katanga Province who wished to leave have made their way 21 into Northern Rhodesia. Our Honorary Consul at Stanleyville reported on the 9th July that all was quiet there.
All British subjects at Albertville have been evacuated across Lake Tanganyika except for two who are expected to cross today. So much for the position of British subjects.
"As regards approaches to Her Majesty's Government, a request for military assistance was made yesterday by Mr. Tshombe, the Prime Minister of the Provincial Government of Katanga, to our Consul at Elisabethville. Mr. Tshombe has been informed that, in the circumstances of the case, it would not be possible for troops to be sent in at the request of an authority other than the lawfully constituted Central Government. Sir Roy Welensky has made a statement which follows the same lines.
"Mr. Tshombe has today asked for police assistance for the Provincial Government of Katanga Province. We have replied that we fully realise the importance of maintaining law and order and are carefully watching the situation from the point of view of the safety of British subjects and property. We are communicating with the Central Government of the Congo on this subject and will consider the situation in all its aspects in the light of the views of that Government.
"All these matters are naturally the subject of the closest consultation between Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Federal Government. We have also been in close touch with the Belgian Government."
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, we are very much obliged Ito the noble Earl for giving us that statement which has been made in another place. I think there has been considerable anxiety in the public mind as to what was the situation of British subjects in these Congo districts. Do I understand from what the noble Earl has said that there are now no British subjects at all—missionaries for example—left in these areas, and have the missionary societies made any approach to Her Majesty's Government to see whether proper protection can be given if there are any attacks upon them?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, in a confused situation it is always difficult to say that no one is left, but so far as we know there are no British subjects left in these Territories. We have had no communication from missionary societies.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, is it clear that the last word on the sending of British troops rests with London?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, yes; we have said that there is no intention of sending troops until we have been in the closest touch with the Congo Government and that at all times we will keep in close consultation with the Federal Government. So the answer to the noble Viscount's question is, I think, really contained in the main statement.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether, since the United Nations have recognised the new Congo Republic, they have made any comment upon the happenings there and whether they are going to take any steps that may be necessary to restore order in the Congo?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I think that the task of restoring order must be first of all for the Congo Government, the Central Government of the Congo, and there are Belgian troops assisting in that matter. I have no knowledge of any United Nations statement on this subject, nor of any proposal that the United Nations should intervene in any form. Perhaps it would be better to wait and see how far the Central Government of the Congo are successful in restoring order.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I revert to the question raised by the noble Viscount, Lord Stansgate? Should the Congo Government request military aid from the Federation, would that matter be referred to London before being decided?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, on every matter of this kind, affecting external affairs and defence, we are always in daily contact with the Federal Government; but I should think it very unlikely that any such request would come.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, the question was rather: Who is the 23 final authority? Of course we are in contact with the Rhodesian Government, but who has the final word?
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, then it would be competent for the Federal authority to send troops and then consult London?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I do not think I could answer that question. The only thing is this: if there were any question of sending troops from the Federation, of course Sir Roy Welensky would consult us, and we should consult him if there were any question of sending troops from here. Any action of this kind is always taken as a joint decision.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, may I ask whether that is correct? As I understand it, the Federation is not responsible either for defence or for external affairs. Any incursion into the Congo would be very much a matter of foreign affairs. Would it not be solely the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, the movement out there of Federal troops, and therefore the use of Federal troops, is a matter for the Federal Government; but they would not be used outside the Federation without the ordinary consultation which always goes on with us. In all these matters concerning Federal troops we always consult before decisions are taken.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, does the noble Earl remember a speech by the noble Viscount, Lord Malvern, when it was suggested that the Air Force might possibly be used by them in their own behalf? And is it really possible that, even after consultation with us, they could go into another country to carry on a policy, or are we the supreme authority outside the Federation?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, the noble Viscount. Lord Malvern, has said many things in his day, and I should have to refresh my memory as to the exact context in which he said that—I think it may have been in answer to a 24 rather provocative speech by the noble Viscount. But the fact remains—I am not going into the constitutional position in any great detail; I should have to do that in answer to a Question put on the Paper—that these are matters for joint decision between us and the Federal Government.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am not interested in going any further into the constitutional position—they are quite proper questions—but I am concerned to know (which I think is now clear) that whatever happens we shall be constantly on our watch to give protection to British lives. That is the essential thing, and I am quite sure that the noble Earl the Leader of the House would agree with me.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I should like to support what the noble Viscount said. We are constantly on the alert to watch that British lives are not in danger here.