Evening star., 1960-08-26

1umumba'S attitude toward the
United Nations.
AntigOvernment RiOting
1t was made in the wake
of bitter antigovernment riot
ing yesterday in front of the
modernistic Palace of Culture
where, at Mr.. Lumumba's in
vitation, delegates of IL African
nations were meeting.
There was no immediate
comment from the U. N.
Departure of the U. N. task
force would create panic among
the remaining white popula-
ton. Most white settlers re-
main in the Congo mainly be-
cause of the U. N. presence.
Mr.. Lumumba reiterated his
demand that all airports in the
Congo be controlled by his
fledgling army. He noted op-
position by Undersecretary
Ralph j. Bunche. head of the
U. N. Congo operation.
U. N. SudaneSe and Ghana
forces took over the Leopold
vile airport after a series of
incidents in which members of
$ u. N. personnel were man
handled by CongoleSe soldiers.
Sudanese riflemen are dug in
around the airport and their
officers said I'VE have orders
to resist any aggression.
RiOting Called Minor
Smiling under television
= lights. Mr.. Lumumba described
: yesterdays rioting as insignifi-
> cant.
: Police had fired over the
= crowds and in front of their
feet as clamors rose for Mr..
) Lumumba's death.
= Mr.. Lumumba declared the
!, demonstration was prepared by
, the Belgians land we know
= who they are"
/. The Congo is not a para
> disc" he said. Such incidents
. happen everywhere"
> Mr.. Lumumba repeated a
!. charge that Belgium and
= France are trying to foment
trouble in the Congo and split
; up its provinces.
. He said a Belgian general
staff has been set up in Brazza-
. Vile in the former French
, Congo across the Congo River
: to direct this activity. He said
: that is why his government has
closed the Brazzaville ferry and
cut communications between
the two cities.
He reported Congolese troops
airlifted to trouble-swept Kasai
province, east of Leopoldville,
have the situation we'll in
hand"
Mr.. Lumumba hinted that
his troops are getting ready to
deal soon with secessionist
Katanga province, farther east,
whose Premier Noise Tshombe
has been defying Mr.. Lumum-
ba for nearly two months.
The problem of Katanga
will be solved Immediately, 4"
Mr.. Lumumba said. "Tshombe
is holding on only because of
the presence of Belgian troops"
Referring to the Afric n
conference, which deteriorated
from the originally planned
summit meeting to gathering
of second >and third string
diplomats, Mr.. Lumumba said:
THE conference is a great
success. All the African ma
tions have expressed the desire
to aid the Congo. African soli-
darity now is not only a word"
Then he added: I'VE want
to cooperate with all nations.
We are ready to welcome any
body willing to help U.s."
Mr.. Lumumba did not ex-
plain how this conceded with
his demand for the withdrawal
Of U. N. troops. He did not
answer any questions.
Western diplomats in the
Congolese capital were in the
dark as to where the Lumumba
government is heading. His
changes from one extreme to
another surprise few. but the
growing use Of violence by
police and troops, mounting
economic unrest and the po-
,litical and administrative
vacuum appear to be ominous
signs.
The CongoleSe leaders bid
for prestige among his African
neighbors was seized upon by
his political opponents for a
demonstration yesterday that
shocked visiting delegates.
Mr.. Lumumba's steel-hel-
meted police and soldiers fired
shots over mobs shouting
"death to Lumumba," dubbed
demonstrators and beat up for
eign newSmen and photog-
raphers covering the riots.
Delegates Applaud Politely
Turmoil ragged outside the
Palace of Culture as Mr.. Lu-
mumba stuck to his prepared
keynote address:
Gentlemen, you are making
contact with Congolese reality
-. there is no compromise be-
tween liberty and slavery"
Inside the palace, the grim
delegates applauded politely.
Only 10 of the 20 independ-
ent African nations invited
and the Algerian rebels-were
represented at yesterdays open
ing session. Originally intended
as a summit conference of Afri-
can leaders to discuss strength
ening African unity, the meet
ing was scaled down to the
foreign minister level. But it
developed into a third-string
affair as no foreign ministers
showed up.