§ 50. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made through the United Nations Organisation, or otherwise, in reconciling the Governments in Leopoldville and Elisabethville; and what precautions have been taken to prevent a renewal of hostilities in Katanga.
§ 61. Mr. Mayhewasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the present position in the Congo.
§ Mr. HeathThe talks between Mr. Adoula and Mr. Tshombe remain suspended following Mr. Tshombe's return to Elisabethville on 26th June. Agreement had previously been reached on the terms of reference for the four Commissions which the two leaders had set up to cover military, economic, financial and communications aspects of the reintegration of Katanga with the rest of the Congo.
Mr. Tshombe has expressed his readiness to resume negotiations with Mr. Adoula in Leopoldville as soon as possible, and has designated the Katangan members of the Commissions. He has however declined Mr. Adoula's invitation to appoint two members of Mr. Tshombe's own party, the Conakat, to the Central Government until Mr. Adoula has promulgated a new constitution for the Congo. Meanwhile, he has made an offer of 100 million Congolese francs to the Central Government.
In North Katanga there has been a minor skirmish between Katanga and A.N.C. forces South-West of Kongolo. The Katangans lost one officer killed and fifteen men wounded. Mr. Munongo, the Katangan Minister of the Interior, said on the 6th of July, however, that the general situation in Katanga was calm.
129W
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal having regard to the recent Supplementary Estimate for the Foreign Service, what are the arrangements for the reimbursement of Her Majesty's Government for any part of their expenditure on the United Nations forces in the Congo and the Congo air lift.
§ Mr. HeathReimbursement for expenditure on behalf of the United Nations forces in the Congo is obtained by the submission of claims to the United Nations Cantroller.