§ 77. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a further statement on the present situation in the Congo; and what progress has now been made towards a settlement of the problem.
§ Mr. P. ThomasIn his letter to Mr. Tshombe published in New York on 10th December, Mr. Gardiner, the chief United Nations representative in the Congo, informed him that it is now the intention of the Secretary-General to seek national reconciliation through the "Course of Action" which was outlined at the same time as the United Nations Plan for National Reconciliation was drawn up. This comprises a number of measures designed to bring about the application of the plan if the latter cannot be carried out as a result of negotiations. These measures include an 135W embargo on copper and cobalt exports from Katanga. The Congolese Premier has now sent a letter to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in which he requests that Her Majesty's Government should prohibit these imports of copper and cobalt, except for such shipments as are authorised by the Central Government. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has stated that he is sending a letter to certain Governments asking their support for Mr. Adoula's request. He has also sent a letter to Her Majesty's Government asking for their co-operation in carrying out certain measures provided for in the Court of Action.
In Elisabethville Mr. Tshombe has made an offer under which foreign exchange earnings by companies operating in Katanga would be shared between the Congolese Central Government and the Katangan provincial authorities.
Her Majesty's Government welcome this and hope that it will lead to further steps towards the implementation of the United Nations Plan for National Reconciliation. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is reported in the Press to have observed, in a statement to the Congo Advisory Committee in New York, that
at first look it would appear to be an encouraging development.