U.N. CONGO DEBATE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29368, 22 November 1960, Page 17

U.N. CONGO DEBATE

Kasavubu May Be Seated

(Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 21

Western nations, headed by the United States, today pressed their bid to have the General Assembly seat a Congolese delegation named by the President, Mr Joseph Kasavubu.

They faced strong opposition from several Afro-Asian Powers, as well as the Soviet Union and its allies.

Observers predicted that when it came to a vote, the Assembly would adopt by a comfortable margin a recommendation from its Credentials Committee that Mr Kasavubu's delegation be seated

However, they also forecast a series of angry anti-colonial speeches before the voting stage was reached. A 15-member conciliation commission, drawn from the AfroAsian members of the special advisory committee on the Congo, waited in the wings to watch the outcome of the debate. The commission is due to meet in Leopoldville next Saturday, but some speakers in the debate —notably Mr Alex Quaisen-Sakey of Ghana and the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister. Mr Valerian Zorin—have said that if the Assembly seats Mr Kasavubu’s nominees, it would offend supporters of Mr Patrice Lumumba and handicap the work of the good offices group. Heated Exchanges

This issue has split the ranks of the African group and the debate has already produced heated exchanges, principally between Mr Quaisen-Sackey and the Foreign Minister of Carneroun, Mr Charles Okala. With the Assembly behind in its work—the main Political Committee has not yet disposed of a single item on its agenda—the delegates are eager to get on with the Congo debate and a night meeting appeared possible. There is almost unanimous agreement - that the Assembly cannot possibly conclude its work by the target date of December 17 and that an adjournment until January or February is inevitable. The main Political Committee, which today cancelled two scheduled meetings because of the Assembly debate, has a packed agenda, which is no shorter now than it was on September 26. when the session began.

Haile Selassie Portrait. — The Australian portrait painter William Dobell, next year will paint a portrait of the 68-year-old Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie. Negotiations for Dobell to paint the Emperor were made through the Consul for Ethiopia in Sydney.—Sydney, November 21.