§ 68. Mr. Wallasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on recent United Nations operations in Katanga.
§ 76. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal what protests have been made at the United Nations at the threat to British lives and damage to British property in Katanga; and whether he will make a statement about the third United Nations offensive there.
§ Mr. GodberOn the 28th December the United Kingdom representative to the United Nations inquired what steps were being taken to ensure the safety of the civilian population in Elisabethville, and was given appropriate assurances.
Hostilities broke out on 24th December when Katangan gendarmerie brought down a United Nations helicopter sent to investigate an outbreak of firing in Elisabethville. An Indian Lieutenant died of wounds. On the evening of 27th December firing started again in Elisabethville, directed from Katangese road blocks against United Nations positions. The United Nations said that firing against them continued for several hours before the United Nations forces took measures for their self-defence. 130W Talks between M. Tshombe and United Nations commanders about a halt to the firing and the removal of road blocks broke down when M. Tshombe declined to confirm his oral agreement in writing, and United Nations troops thereupon advanced on the road blocks.
The British and United States Consuls in Elisabethville did their utmost to assist the efforts to stop the fighting, and the Secretary General expressed his appreciation of the helpful rôle played by Mr. Dodson, the British Consul. Meanwhile resistance by the Katanga gendarmerie was slight and by 30th December the United Nations were in complete control of the Elisabethville area.
The United Nations troops were under orders not to advance to other major centres in Katanga without express instructions from the Secretary General, but in the absence of any serious opposition, Irish troops occupied Kipushi on 30th December. On 3rd January Jadotville was occupied by elements of the Indian Brigade with negligible resistance and little serious damage. The United Nations explained that this advance was contrary to instructions and that there had been a failure of communications in transmitting the Secretary General's orders.
On 9th January M. Tshombe, following a visit to Kolwezi, personally arranged the opening of communications to Sakania on the Federation border and United Nations troops reached Mokambo nearby without opposition.
On 17th January, after a further visit to Kolwezi, M. Tshombe once more returned to Elisabethville and at a meeting with United Nations civilian and military representatives agreed to take the necessary measures to ensure the United Nations peaceful entry into Kolwezi, in accordance with their right to freedom of movement throughout Katanga, which M. Tshombe had earlier acknowledged. The United Nations forces have since entered Kolwezi without any untoward incident. Meanwhile President Kasavubu and M. Adoula have confirmed in writing to the United Nations the validity of their earlier declarations of an amnesty for all political offences.
131W
§ 74. Sir W. Teelingasked the Lord Privy Seal what steps have been taken since early 1962 to obtain the compensation demanded for British subjects whose persons and property were damaged by United Nations Organisation forces in 1961 in Katanga; what have been the results; and whether any British or Commonwealth subjects suffered harm in the recent fighting with United Nations Organisation forces in Katanga.
§ Mr. GodberRegistration of losses by Persons who claim to have suffered injury or damage has continued, and reports of all the incidents concerned have been under examination in London. I have received no reports that any British or Commonwealth subject suffered harm in the recent fighting with United Nations forces in Katanga.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal what representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government from African nationalist parties against the United Nations operations in Katanga; and what replies have been made.
§ Mr. GodberNone.