Hammarskjold In Congo For Talks

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 13

Hammarskjold In Congo For Talks

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LEOPOLDVILLE, July 28. The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Dag Hammarskjold, arrived in Leopoldville today for consultations* with Congolese leaders and United Nations representatives. /

He left Brussels yesterday by air after talks with Belgian officials and King Baudouin. Mr Hammarskjold was greeted with cries of “Long live a free Congo” and “We demand a united Congo” when he arrived in Leopoldville. Waiting on the tarmac were a group of United Nations and Congolese officials headed by the United Nations Under-Secretary, Dr. Ralph

Bunche, and General Carl von Horn, the Swedish commander of United Nations forces in the Congo. In Brussels, the Belgian Prime Minister. Mr Gaston Eyskpns, warned Belgians they must tighten their belts and prepare for an austerity programme as a result of the Congo situation. Belgium must expect “a regime of austerity, economy and discipline for all classes” if the country is to cvercome its difficulties.

“If the parties in powei now are not capable of supporting such a policy, the Belgian Government will have to go and I don’t know what would happen then,” he said. “Our policy will take into account the Congo catastrophe, which is important, however limited, in its immediate consequences on the Belgian economy,” he said. In New York, the Congo Prime Minister, Mr Patrice Lumumba, and his aides, were reported to be short of money for their North American visit. They were said to be getting persona! financial help from the United Nations. There was no confirmation of a report that Mr Lumumba and his party of 18 left Leopoldville last week with only 20 dollars among them. American Associated Press said.