U.N. HEAD IN CONGO

Press, Volume C, Issue 29682, 28 November 1961, Page 17

U.N. HEAD IN CONGO

O’Brien To Return (N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, Nov. 27. The United Nations representative in Elisabethville, Dr. Conor O’Brien, will leave New York by air tomorrow night to return to his post, United Nations sources said today. The chief of the U.N. military command in the Congo, Lieutenant-General Sean McKeown. who was recalled with Dr. O’Brien for consultation 10 days ago. left to return to the Congo last night. He planned to spend a few days in Dublin on his way back to Leopoldville. Dr. O’Brien came under strong criticism during the recent Security Council meeting on the Congo, especially fr.om the Belgian Foreign Minister (Mr Spaak) and there has been speculation about his future. But United Nations officials have repeatedly quashed reports that he would not be returning to his post. Dr. O'Brien has spent most of his time in New York at United Nations headquarters in consultations with the new Actin g Secretary-General (U Thant), who was given new responsibilities in the Congo situation under the Security Council resolution adopted on Friday night. U Thant promised to carry out the resolution’s instruction to sweep all foreign mercenaries and hostile elements from the Congo. He indicated that he would assume a “sympathetic attitude” towards any Central Government action directed against those who took up arms against it, and also against all secessionist movements.