Congo-Belgian Relations Expected To Resume

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 11

Congo-Belgian Relations Expected To Resume

(N.Z. Prm Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, October 6. The Congo Foreign Minister (Mr Justin Bomboko) flew into Brussels yesterday and asked for diplomatic relations with Belgium to be resumed, the “Daily Mail” reported. He also asked for Belgian aid for the Congo. He received “red carpet” treatment, the report said. Diplomatic relations, which were broken off 14 months ago by the first Congo Prime Minister, Mr Patrice Lumumba, would be resumed very shortly, the report said.

When diplomatic relations were resumed, the Congolese would want the aid and assistance treaty signed when the Congo became independent to come into force, the report said. Under the treaty, Belgium undertook to give financial aid and to supply technicians in all branches of public administration, doctors, magistrates, school teachers, and military advisers. President Moise Tshombe of Katanga said last night that the United Nations had taken advantage of the ceasefire to reinforce and “pre-

pare to renew the attack on Katanga.”

President Tshombe accused the United Nations of further troop movements around the post office at EUsabethville, which he said were a “violation of the cease-fire.” At a press conference in his residence he said: ‘The United Nations is doing everything to aid the Congolese National Army to invade Katanga." He accused the United Nations of creating conditions which could lead to civil war and said: “I just do not understand this.” President Tshombe said the United Nations was obstructing supplies of food being sent to Albertville, North Katanga, and reiterated his determination to defend against any attack. President Tshombe said that the United NationsKatangese military sub-com-mission was making progress and had gone to Jadotville, where 150 Irish United Nations soldiers are detained. In an interview with the newspaper “Essor du Katanga,” the Katangese Foreign Minister (Mr Evariste Kimba) said the views of the United Nations and Katanga were widely diver-

gent but not irreconcilable. He said Mr Tshombe was prepared to go to Leopoldville if there waa sufficient guarantee for his security. The newspaper said Mr Kimba was “optimistic and calm." and quoted him aa saying the United Nations wanted control of the local press and radio, the disarmament of all civilians, and its own technicians in the post office. The Congolese Government issued a communique last night guaranteeing President Tshombe’s personal safety if he came to Leopoldville for talks to settle the Katanga problem. The communique came after a message delivered to the Prime Minister (Mr Cyrille Adoula), by a leading United Nations negotiator, Mr Mahmoud Khiari, in which .Mr Tshombe raid he was willing to send a deputation of two ministers to the Congolese capital. Mr Adoula’s prompt assurance that the Katanga leader and his ministers would be safe in Leopoldville was seen by observers as a hopeful sign that the Central Government was willing to negotiate.