§ 83. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a further statement on the situation in the Congo.
§ Mr. HeathThere have been a number of incidents in Katanga in the past week. The Provincial Government have announced that attacks by the Congolese National Army from Kasai were repulsed on 26th and 29th November. Both appear to have been minor engagements.
In Elisabethville the Indian officer to whose disappearance I referred in my statement on 29th November is still missing. Her Majesty's Consul has been asked by the United Nations authorities to use his influence with Katangan ministers to secure the officer's release. This he will, of course, do.
An incident between United Nations and Katanga forces took place at Elisabethville Airport on 2nd December. As a result eleven United Nations soldiers and civilians are reported missing and the Katanga authorities state that twenty of their gendarmes have disappeared.
Mr. Tshombe has left Elisabethville and is believed to be en route for Brazil.
General Lundula is reported to have said that he is holding the Congolese soldiers believed to be responsible for the massacre of thirteen Italian airmen of the United Nations force. United Nations investigators are flying to Stanleyville.
§ 89. Mr. Sorensenasked the Lord Privy Seal why the United Kingdom Government representative abstained from voting on the recent United Nations Security Council resolution to 118W strengthen the Secretary-General's mandate to deal with secession in Katanga.
§ Mr. HeathI have nothing to add to what I said in the House on 29th November in reply to a supplementary question from the hon. Gentleman the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey).
§ 92. Mr. F. M. Bennettasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the latest United Nations Resolution authorising the use of force to attain the political unification of the Congo, without due regard to the wishes of the peoples concerned, Her Majesty's Government will reconsider their financial contribution to the United Nations Congo operation.
§ Mr. HeathI do not accept my hon. Friend's description of the resolution of 24th November; it authorises the use of force only if this is necessary to expel mercenaries from the Congo.
The legal obligation to pay our assessed contribution exists whether or not we approve of particular actions taken by the United Nations on the authority of the Security Council or the General Assembly.
§ Mr. Healeyasked the Lord Privy Seal how the British delegate voted in the General Assembly of the United Nations on the recent resolution concerning the Congo.
§ Mr. HeathThe British delegate abstained on the resolution concerning the Congo voted by the Security Council on 24th November. No resolution has been voted recently in the General Assembly.