FRANCE NOT TO PAY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29477, 1 April 1961, Page 4

FRANCE NOT TO PAY

U.N. Costs In Congo (N.Z J’.A.-Reuter—Copvrigl't) NEW YORK. March 29. France has refused to pay her share of the costs of the United Nations military operations in the Congo, according to authoritative United Nations sources last night. The sources said that the Secretary-General, Mr Hammarskjold. who has already warned that the world organisation faces bankrupcty, had been pressing the French Government to pay its share of the expected 121 million dollars which the United Nations must find this year to maintain its forces in the Congo. They said Mr Hammarskjold’s efforts to get France to subscribe to the Congo costs had failed. The French Government had rejected his pleas. By this refusal. France becomes the first Western Power to refuse to pay for the Congo operation costs of the United Nations. The Soviet Union and other Communist States have already refused to pay any part of the costs resulting frfait the Ugitad .Nations operations in the Congo. Latin-American speakers in the General Assembly’s current Congo debate have indicated that their Countries will not be able to meet their assessments. The United Nations costs in the Congo total 48,500,000 dollars in 1960 and are expected to reach about 121 million dollars this year—about double the amount of all other United Nations expenses.