§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement in the light of Mr. Tshombe's offer to share Katanga's foreign exchange earnings with the Congolese Central Government.]
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEYes, my Lords. I have seen the text of this proposal which has been communicated by Mr. Tshombe to Her Majesty's Consul in Elisabethville. The substance of the offer is that the total of foreign exchange earned by exports from Katanga shall be paid to the Monetary Council of the Central Government, which includes United Nations advisers. A certain proportion of these foreign exchange receipts will then be returned to the Union Minière and to Katanga, to cover their respective needs. Her Majesty's Government regard this offer as an encouraging, step forward and hope that it will form the basis of an agreement between the United Nations, the Central Government and the Katanga. Such an agreement could be a most valuable step towards the implementation of the United Nations Plan for National Reconciliation.
§ LORD COLYTONMy Lords, may I be allowed to congratulate Her Majesty's Government on the part they have played in bringing about this easing of relations between Katanga and the Central Government? But may I, at the same time, ask my noble friend this question? In the circumstances, is not the continued massive build-up of the United Nations forces in Katanga a cause for serious alarm? Is it not a fact that, despite United Nations' assurances that they do not intend to initiate any military action, the Secretary-General's plan does provide for the removal of Katanga road blocks? And if that action is taken, will it not inevitably lead to resistance on the part of the Katanga gendarmerie, and would that not inevitably be followed by a further outbreak of hostilities for which the United Nations must be held responsible?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, I think the Foreign Secretary has often made it clear to your Lordships that in our view any attempt to coerce Katanga by sanctions or military action would be a tragic blunder. We are, for that reason, all the more glad that this proposal has been made which we hope may yet avert any cause or pretext for such a blunder.