HC Deb 11 December 1961 vol 651 cc11-2W
70. Sir J. Lucas

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose in the United Nations that a plebiscite should be held in Katanga in order to ascertain the political desires of the people of that people in that territory.

Mr. Heath

The Katanga is a province of the Republic of the Congo and there is no provision under existing legislation for holding such a plebiscite. Nor is it for the United Nations who have no authority to impose a settlement on the Congo and are not responsible for the present Katanga administration, to set such a procedure in motion.