Rhodesian Troops On Congo Border

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29233, 17 June 1960, Page 13

Rhodesian Troops On Congo Border

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LEOPOLDVILLE, June 16. Northern Rhodesian troops today moved towards the Congo border at Katanga province, while in Elizabethville, the Katanga capital, Belgian troops occupied key points after last night’s declaration of a state of emergency in the province. Officially, the Rhodesian troops are being moved for monthlong manoeuvres, but reports circulating in Salisbury say they are being sent as a precaution in case violence breaks out in the Congo.

The Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Sir Roy Welensky) today would make no comment on the movements. British United Press said.

The significance of the Rhodesaan troop movements towards Katanga was a prime question in the Congo today. About 750 African troops, supported by Canberra jet bombers and fighters, were moving towards the border. The Conakat Party has been trying to form a regional government to take over the Katanga province when the Congo becomes independent on June 30. It has threatened to lead the copper-rich province out of the Belgian Congo, and link up with Rhodesia. Secession of the Katanga would spell economic disaster for the Congo. Today, however, the Conakat Party offered to join a Congo National Government The offer carries the proviso that it receives at least two key Cabinet posts, those of finance and defence, according to unofficial reports.

The leader of the National Congolese Movement, Patrice Lumumba, will report to Mr Walter van der Meersch, the Belgian Resident Minister, today on his attempts to form a National Union Cabinet Mr Lumumba received the offer from the Conakat leader, Moise Tshombe, to join a National Government in a cable today. , Conakat holds only 18 of the 137 seats in the Congo National Assembly, but Katanga province provides more than half of the country’s income. Mr Lumumba’s party gained 36 of the 137 seats in the Chamber of Deputies in the recent elections. His known allies have five seats, making a total of 41—far short of a majority. If Mr Lumumba has to report that his efforts have failed, Mr van der Meersch is expected to call on another African leader to try to form a government. Observers in Leopoldville believe that he will ask either Jean Bolikangobn, leader of the African National Union Party, or Albert Kalonji, of the rival wing of the National Congolese Movement.