§ 2.35 p.m.
§ EARL WINTERTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if they will instruct the British representative at United Nations headquarters to protest at the failure of the commander of the large contingent of United Nations troops on parade on United Nations Day in Leopoldville to take any action to prevent the gross ill-treatment by Congolese soldiers of Africans which occurred only a short distance from the parade.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, I have no complete report of the incident to which the noble Earl refers. Within the limits imposed by their resources and the terms of their mandate, the United Nations authorities in the Congo are doing their best to maintain good order. Their task is extremely difficult and delicate, and I am reluctant to complicate it by a representation about this particular incident.
§ EARL WINTERTONMy Lords, may I ask the Foreign Secretary whether he is aware that a full account of this incident appeared in theDaily Express, and that thousands of readers of that newspaper must share the feeling that 308 I have, that Her Majesty's Government have a moral responsibility in this matter? Is the noble Earl further aware that there have been dozens of other instances where outrages have taken place under the very eyes of the United Nations troops, and nothing has been done? The only man so far arrested has been an Englishman, which seems to show a certain degree of partiality.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I must not say that the reports have been exaggerated, but I have nothing to confirm the stories which I read from the Congo of the particular incident to which the noble Earl referred. That is why I am reluctant, without more complete information, to take up this particular incident again. But I would assure the noble Earl that our permanent representative in New York is in constant touch with the United Nations authorities on these matters, and I shall not hesitate, if I feel it is necessary, to bring such matters to the attention of the United Nations authorities. In this particular case I did not feel it was necessary.
§ EARL WINTERTONMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Earl.