BELGIAN TROOPS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29271, 1 August 1960, Page 11

BELGIAN TROOPS

Withdrawal Of 1500 BRUSSELS, July 30. The Belgian Government has decided on an immediate withdrawal of 1500 troops from the Congo, a usually reliable source said today. Cabinet sources said the withdrawal of Belgian troops could be considered as a gesture to comply with the Security Council resolution and to facilitate the mission of the United Nations Secretary-General (Mr Hammarskjold). who is in the Congo. The withdrawal was believed to be subject to United Nations guarantees that United Nations forces could safeguard the lives of Europeans in the Congo. Belgium has always said that its troops of intervention would be withdrawn as soon as they were effectively replaced by United Nations troops. The decision to withdraw 1500 troops from the Congo would leave about 8500 Belgian soldiers there. Defence Ministry sources said. Congolese spokesmen said their Cabinet would make two major demands: That all Belgian troops must evacuate the country completely and not merely ’-ithdraw to the two bases Belgium retained after granting independence to the African territory on July 1. The Present Belgian Ambassador (Baron Jean van den Bosch) must go. This is a demand that the Prime Minister (Mr Lumumba) has made repeatedly. A spokesman also said the Cabinet would tell the United Nations Secretary-General that the Government wanted Belgian technicians still in the country to remain, and those who left to return. In Goma yesterday, armed Congolese troops held back thousands of cheering Africans as the main body of Irish United Nations troops landed. Cheers rang out as the 650 Irishmen stepped out of giant American transport planes and paraded on the tarmac to the strains of a pipe and drum band. Congolese gazed in awe at the green tunics and gold kilts flashing in the sun. One Congolese, asked what he thought of the troops, replied: “We don’t mind their colour, as long as they are not Belgians.”