Congo Debate At U.N. Delayed

Press, Volume C, Issue 29468, 21 March 1961, Page 15

Congo Debate At U.N. Delayed

(Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 30. A United Nations debate on the Congo, called for today by Russia, is expected to be postponed for several days.

The General Assembly entered the third week of its resumed session with its agenda virtually untouched. In response to a Soviet request last week, the Irish President of the Assembly. Mr Frederick Roland, announced that the Congo debate would begin today, but high-ranking secretariat sources said the arrangement was now “highly tentative.” Even a number of AfroAsian nations, which normally would have been among the most anxious to discuss affairs m the troubled republic, were reported to favour a postponement. They were understood to be arguing that a postponement would give more time for the United Nations to put into effect the latest Security Council resolution, which authorises the use of force if necessary to avert civil war in the Congo, which calls for the withdrawal of Belgian troops and political advisers.

way to the 25,000-man goal set by the Secretary-General. Mr Dag Hammarskjold. Other reinforcements recently announced were 4700 troops from India, 800 from Malaya, 600 from Tunisia and 230 from Liberia. The Congo force dropped to well below 20,000 through the (withdrawal of troops by nations in disagreement with United Nations policy. Dayal To. Return

The United Nations special representative in the Congo. Mr Rajeshwar Dayal, of India, who is now in New York for consultations with Mr Hammarskjold, definitely would return to the Congo within the next fortnight, informed circles said today. The sources were commenting on reports that Mr Dayal, who has been criticised for alleged bias in his handling of the Congo situation. might not be returning to his command in Leopoldville.

The United Nations Congo Conciliation Commission is due to publish a report this week after its visit. Many delegates said they would require time to study the report before they would be in a position to discuss it in the Assembly. Troops From Ceylon Diplomatic sources at the United Nations said that Ceylon had agreed to send between 800 and 1000 troops to the United Nations force in the Congo. The troops would put the strength of the depleted force back above 20.000 and on the

Mr Dayal, who was lent to Mr Hammarskjold for the Congo appointment by the Indian Government, was earlier reported to have concluded a six-month term in the Congo on March 1, but United Nations officials said there had been no definite term of appointment, and that Mr Dayal would be returning to the Congo by about the beginning of April. The dismissal of Mr Dayal from his Congo post has been demanded repeatedly by the Congolese President. Mr Joseph Kasavubu, who has declined to recognise the Indian official’s authority in the troubled republic.