CEASEFIRE SIGNED FOR KATANGA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 11

CEASEFIRE SIGNED FOR KATANGA

Problems Of Secession Face U.N. Officials

(N Z.P.A -Reuttr—Copyright) NDOLA (Northern Rhodesia), September 21. .A provisional ceasefire agreement for Katanga was in effect today, as United Nations officials prepared to grapple with problems of Katanga’s secession from the Congo. President Moise Tshombe, of Katanga, and Mr Mahmoud Khiari, the United Nations delegation leader, signed an agreement last night for a ceasefire in’ Katanga to be put into effect at 12.1 a.m. local time today in all Katanga. President Tshombe left Kitwe, Northern Rhodesia, for home today in apparent high spirits after the signing of the ceasefire agreement.

“We hope the negotiations will be resumed within 48 hours to resolve the (secession) problems,” Mr Khiari said later at a press conference.

He did not say where these negotiations would be held or who would attend, but added that the main problem depended on instructions from the United Nations Secretariat in New York. On the spot observers believe that if the United Nations and the world at large still insist on upholding the decision to end Katanga’s “secession,” more bloody fighting must be reckoned with in Katanga. Mr Tshombe said after the cease fire announcement that the United Nations troops should return immediately to their quarters. Mr Khiari had said during the discussions that he would have to refer this clause to New York. Under the terms of the agreement, the Katangese have not achieved their declared object of removing all United Nations troops from their territory. Key Phrase A number of observers believe one of the key phrases in the agreement Is that wtfich says the four-member mixed commission will “seek means to settle the relations between the United Nations and Katangese forces.” The 158 Irish troops of the United Nations force held at Jadotville could be used by the Katangese as a lever for wresting concessions, some observers believe. It is doubtful if President Tshombe can maintain full control of his forces if they think at any stage he is making concessions to the United Nations. Morale among the 11,000

Katangese troops looks high to observers on the spot But comments attributed to Irish troops suggest they are not entirely happy about their mission, and observers report that some of the Swedish forces also share this dissatisfaction.

In Leopoldville, a United Nations spokesman said yesterday United Nations troops had suffered 13 killed and 63 wounded during the week of clashes.

These figures included two Swedish soldiers and one officer killed in the Hammar. skiold air crash. The other dead consisted of seven Indians, an Irishman, and two Swedes. Tn Elisabethville. the Sec-retary-General’s representative in Katanga. Dr. Conor O’Brien, said he had heard over Brazzaville Radio, in 'former French) Congo, that he was to be replaced. "I have not had any official news.” he said. “I wish my successor good luck.” He said the United Nations forces at the big Kamina base were still holding the airport there and had captured two Katangese armoured cars during an attack. The Gurkhas were still holding the post office, in the centre of Elisabethville. and had 40 Ka'anga soldiers as prisoners inside. Seven Europeans suspected of sniping had been arrested and sent to Leopoldville. Swedish Fighters In Stockholm, the Swedish Government announced last night it is sending a group of four jet fighter aircraft to serve with the United Nations in the Congo. Swift action was taken in London yesterday to counter Asian and African charges

that Britain was involved in an “international plot” to murder Mr Hammarskjold. An editorial in the proGovernment “Ghanian Times” accused the British Government of “luring” Mr Hammarskjold, the world din’omat. to his death. The massrcirculation “Indian Express” in New Delhi urged that India quit the Commonwealth because of Britain’s "utter shamelessness.” A Reuter diplomatic correspondent reported that official circles in London received the charges with “amazement.” Within hours of the “Ghanian Times” arti.de appearing a British Note protesting “in the strongest possible terms” was sent to the Government.

J A speedv reply said the Ghanian Government "completely dissociated” itself from the allegations. Two African leaders spoke out against the "suspicious manner” of Mr Hammarskjold’s death. In Blantyre (Nyasaland) Dr. Hastings Banda, said that “to say the least, his death is very suspicious.” The Kenya nationalist leader. Mr Tom Mboya. bluntly stated in Nairobi he believed Mr Hammarskjold had been murdered. Pathologist Arrives A British Air Force pathologist arrived at Salisbury yesterday to assist in the inquiry into the crash of Mr Hammarskjold’s aeroplane. His main task will be to try to decide whether the victims died in the air, or when the aeroplane hit the ground. The lone crash survivor. United Nations security

guard Sergeant Harold Julian, was last night reported still seriously ill. At Ndola the body of Mr Hammarskjold lay in state before a simple altar flanked by flowers from the peoples whose quarrels he tried to ease.

The Swedish Government announced last night Mr Hammarskjold would be buried at a national State funeral at Uppsala, 45 miles from Stockholm, on September 29. An official statement said King Gustav and Queen Louise would attend. The United States VicePresident (Mr Lyndon Johnson) will represent President Kennedy at the funeral, the White House announced today. The announcement added that a small group of other officials would accompany Mr Johnson.