§ 40. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking, in concert with other Governments, to assist in protecting the lives of British and other non-Congolese nationals in the Congo and, through the United Nations, in bringing peace to the Congo.
§ 42. Mr. Fellasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the part played by Her Majesty's Government in the recent rescue operation of British citizens and other foreign nationals in the Congo.
§ 49. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the plight of British nationals and Commonwealth citizens in rebel-held parts of the Congo.
§ 53. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs if he will invite Mr. Kenyatta and other African leaders to use their good offices in an endeavour to secure the safety of British subjects and other Europeans, at present in danger in the Congo, by means of an exchange of prisoners.
§ Mr. George ThomsonWith regard to the recent rescue operation in the Congo, I have nothing to add to the information given to the House on 30th November by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Apart from those British subjects rescued, there remain approximately 40 scattered in outlying areas. It is not practicable to arrange an exchange of prisoners. There appear at this stage to he no rebel leaders with whom it would be possible to negotiate, but the Congolese Army, in a further advance from Stanleyville, have already freed 400 further non-Congolese civilians.
A Royal Air Force Beverley is still standing by at short notice in order to evacuate or to fly relief to any British subjects. It will be used in consultation with, and on the advice of, Her Majesty's Ambassador.
Her Majesty's Government are discussing urgently with other concerned Governments what can be done to save further lives in the Congo, whether European, Asian or Congolese.
130WMr. Kenyatta and other African leaders made appeals to secure the safety of non-Congolese civilians before the rescue operations but it did not prove possible to obtain any assurance from the rebels that civilians, black as well as white, would be treated in accordance with the normally accepted rules of warfare. The Organisation of African Unity is meeting on 18th December. Her Majesty's Government strongly hopes that the Organisation of African Unity will be able to help to promote a settlement of the Congo problem, which we continue to regard as essentially a problem that must be solved by the Africans themselves.
§ 48. Sir H. Butcherasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the services rendered by Belgian soldiers in rescuing British nationals whose lives were in peril in the Congo, he will invite to this country a representative detachment of the troops engaged so that they may be publicly thanked.
§ Mr. George ThomsonWhile I sympathise with the hon. Member's sentiments, I do not think his suggestion would be practicable. I would like, however, to re-affirm what I told the House on 25th November: that Her Majesty's Government are immensely grateful to these Belgian soldiers and to all other who assisted in this courageous rescue of British subjects in rebel-held areas of the Congo.