Evening star., 1960-08-06
CONGO
CONGO
Kotongo Showdown Reodied
Before u. N. Tomorrow Niqht
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
making the Congo an impor-
tant issue in the cold war.
The Russians are eager to
get foothold here, either by
providing massive technical as
sistance to the tottering central
government or sending Com
muniSt troops into the Congo
operation.
The Congo government was
at the point of requesting Rus
sian troops last month but Mr..
Lumumba. in a startling about
face, asked for a U. N. opera
ton. ..i t....
MIR. lam m arskjold has
scrupulously observed the
terms of the U. N. resolution
and has speedily accumulated
a force of predominantly Afri-
can troops. This force now is
in a position to guarantee Or
der or very near it. Only the
intransigence of Mr.. Tshombe
bars the way.
DR.. Bunche became con-
vinced of the looming danger
after comforting in Elizabeth
vile with Katanga Premier
Tshombe. who vowed he would
use force to keep out U. N.
troops.
Mr.. Hammerskjold's decision
not to enter Katanga and re-
place Belgian troops now pa
trolling the province came
amid ominous rumblings from
two quarters.
Russia Sounds Warning
Russia drummed out a warn
ing that if the U. N. fails to
get all Belgian troops out of
the Congo. forces should be
sent in from other countries
which would be ready to con-
tribute"
And ministers of the central
Congo government talked loud
ly of sending our troops to
Katanga" if the U. N. keeps
stalling.
Observers said Mr.. Ham
maraskjold's backdown on Ka-
tanga might have averted
bloodshed, but they predicted
it might spell trouble for, the
United Nations on several
counts.
1--WE are back where we
started" said one U. N. diplo-
mat glumly. Anything may
happen now"
The Congolese government
has insisted the new republics
No. / problem is to keep copper
rich Kantanga in the fold.
Mr.. Lumumba, on his way
back from an aid-seeking mis-
sion to the United States,
Canada and African countries,
previously made gestures to-
ward asking the Soviet Union
for military help to oust the
BelgianS. He did not carry out
his threat when the U. N.
stepped into the situation.
Angry East-WeSt debate was
expected to erupt when Mr..
Hammarskjold goes before the
Security Council tomorrow
night. The Russians have served
notice they will press their de-
mand that U. N. troops he
yanked out and other forces
sent in unless the Belgians are
ousted at once.
French Veto FOreseen
The council has already
called twice for speedy Belgian
withdrawal, but any action
which would condemn Belgium
or seek to deal too harshly with
her was certain to arouse oppo-
sition from other Western ma
tions. particularly France.
There was speculation France
might veto any resolution it
considered too harsh on Bel
GUM.
Mr.. Hammarskjold made
plain he felt he does not have
enough authority under pend
ing resolutions to risk blood
shed by trying to force entry
into Katanga.
Such an initiative by the
U. N. force is against the prin-
ciples established by the Secur-
ity Council for the operation
Of the force and against con-
ditions on which various con-
tributing countries have agreed
to send units to the force" he
said in Leopoldville.
MIR. Tshombe was hailed to-
day in Katanga where both
whites and his own African
supporters agreed he had won
the first round in his bout with
the U. N.
Huge Bluff Seen
Some wondered, however,
whether the 40-year-old pro-
Western African leader had
pulled off a tremendous bluff.
He had made warlike sounds,
but whether he intended to go
through with his threat to stop
the U. N. was a question.
Many whites felt that if the
U. N. had stuck to it's guns, Mr..
Tshombe. under Belgian pres
sure, would have backed down.
The Katanga government
had set up a crude but effec-