WHITE TROOPS TO GO

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 11

WHITE TROOPS TO GO

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copimght)

ELISABETHVILLE, Sept. 30. President Tshotnbe of Katanga said today he had “paid off” and no longer wanted the 59 to 109 white soldiers serving with his Army. But he did not say he would expel them. The United Nations has bien pressing for this in the current ceasefire talks in keeping with the United Nations resolution of February 21 calling for withdrawal of all foreign military and para-military personnel. President Tshombe told a press conference: ‘1 do not want them any more. On August 28 1 made a public declaration thanking them and paid them off." On the question of expulsion, he merely said: “If the United Nations want to get in touch with foreign Consuls here, that is their affair.”

Earlier, the SecretaryGeneral’s representative in Katanga. Dr. Conor O'Brien, announced that United Nations forces were withdrawing from two points in Elisabethville "as a gesture of goodwill."

He said United Nations troops had- begun withdrawing from the Udo Hotel on the outskirts of the ceasefire agreement area and would also withdraw from the city hospital But he said there had been no agreement on a withdrawal from the key strongpoints at the central post office and Katanga radio station

Dr. O’Brien said the ceasefire discussions with the Katangans were progressing “rather slowly.” The agreement reached in a meeting of the ceasefire commission yesterday, includes provision for the re-

sumption of normal airline activity at Elisabethville Airport. another United Nations strongpoint, in a short time. The statement added that Katanga’s Foreign Minister (Mr Evariste Kir.iba) “has obtained an assurance that the United Nations will not resume hoatilitie*. consequently the Government asks the population to keep calm.”

Y-sterday. the Congolese Government bluntly rejected President Tshombe’s bid to meet the Congolese Prime Minister (Mr Cyrille Adoula) on “neutral ground.” and said if he wished to discuss the Ka'anga problem he must come to Leopoldville “We are tired of this Tshombe comedy.” said the Information Minister (Mr Joseph Tleo). "We know all about these Katangan manoeuvres—none of us believes their lies “