U Thant Wishes To Leave Congo

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30221, 28 August 1963, Page 6

U Thant Wishes To Leave Congo

I (h’.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) WEiW YORK, August 27. American and British suggestions that a military presence be retained in the Congo until at least the middle of next year has not met with the full approval of the United Nations Secretary-General (U Thant), who is reported to be “only luke-warm” to the idea.

In his annual report yesterday, the Secretary-General reiterated his desires to terminate the costly military operation. He said the time had come when the Congolese Government should assume full responsibility for the maintenance of law and order.

He said that “while good reasons have been put forward for the continuation of the United Nations military commitment,” he felt the United Nations should envisage its “early withdrawal and winding-up.” U Thant is wording on his latest report to the Security Council on the Congo. He is expected to present it during the next few days. Informed sources said Britain had told U Thant of its anxiety that peace in the Congo might not be maintained once UN. troops withdrew. Sources said the' United States believed it might be worth incurring a little extra expenditure continuing military aid until about the middle of next year to obviate any need for renewed UN. assistance on a large scale at a later date. The international military force in the Congo, which numbered almost 20,000 troops at the height of the emergency, is being progressively reduced. On July 26 it numbered 7776 men. U Thant’s reluctance to accept the British and American arguments is understood to be that the cost of the three-year-old Congo action has been instrumental in bringing the United Nations near fu> bankruptcy. The Soviet Union, France and South Africa are among members which have refused to pay their share of the cost.

Five factories are to be built in Burma under a de-velopment-aid scheme now to be studied by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.