Evening star., 1961-12-28
CONGO
CONGO .,4
Kotongo Deputies Join
National Parliament
Continued From Page Al

and weaken Katanga morale in
case hostilities start again."
Mr.. Tshombe said in his Sc
cessionist capital that the dele
gates were sent to bargain for
a change in the Congo provi-
sional constitution, which pro-
vides for a strong central gov
ernrnent, and not to sit in the
national parliament.
"our Katanga constitution
:. is the basis Of the COM
ing Leopoldville talks" Mr..
Tshombe declared. 1T foresees
indignation in a federation or a
confederation Of the Congo. We
still insist on a confederation"
This indicated Mr.. Tshombe
had sent the delegation in COM
pliance with article 5 of the
Kitona agreement, in which he
agreed Ito the participation of
representatives of the province
of Katanga in q government
commission to prepare a new
constitution"
Active Role Sought
Mr.. Adoula's government,
however, expected the Katanga
representatives in fulfillment
Of Article 6 of the agreement,
In which Mr.. Tshombe agreed
"to take all measures to permit
Senators and Deputies of Ka-
tanga Province to exercise the
national functions (that is.
participate in the National
Parliament"
The central government said
IN a communique it hopes the
Katangan Deputies will par
ticipate actively in the parlia-
mentary debates and that they
will accomplish their duty until
the close of the session."
The Congo's draft constitu-
tion-still to be ratified 18
months after independence
calls for a strong central gov
ernment.
Just before leaving Elisabeth
vile, a spokesman for the Ka-
tanga Deputies said: 1--WE are
going to Leopoldville to have
that ridiculous fundamental
law changed"
30 Assembly to Meet
George Ivan Smith, senior
U. N. representative in Ka-
tanga. said the Katanga Pro-
vil1cial Assembly will meet in
Elisabethville January 3 to de-
bate the Kitona declaration.
rPresident Tshombe has asked
us (the U. NJ to provide guar
antees for the delegates during
the meeting and aslo safe con-
duct privileges as they travel
to Elisabethville for the ses-
sion," Mr.. Smith said.
Diplomats in this central cap
ital expressed satisfaction with
the arrangements. They said
without such protection Baluba
tribesmen in the Assembly who
favor the Leopoldville govern
tnent against Mr.. TShombe's
eeparatist regime might be un-
willing to risk their lives by
going to Elisabethville for the
session.
AS Mr.. Tshombe maneuvered,
tensions remained high in Ellis
abethville.
Katanga gendarmes yesterday |
arrested seven Swedish soldiers
Of the U. N. task force, charging
members Of Katanga's security
forces had been seized since
the informal cease fire was
reached a week ago.
U. N. Is Cautious
The U. N. reacted cautiously,
q spokesman declaring. we are
hot. taking any military action
to get them (the Swedes) re-
turned because we do not want |
to upset the political situation"
The U. N. civilian operations
staff in a report published today
said some semblance of admin
istrAtive order is returning to
the Congo after 18 months of |
chaos. ....
The report noted "a funda-
mental change in the character
ofxthe U. N. operation in the
Congo: advice to the Congo
authorities in rapidly replacing
executive action" by the U. N.
Itself.
The problems confronting
the country are still immense,
however.
u. N. and Congolese financial
officials, after studying the ma
tiofial budget, found that only
20 per cent Of current public |
expenses were covered by in
come received.
School Program Pushed
In the field Of education,
5000 Congolese school children
were turned out after finishing |
primary grades last fall because
there were not enough sec
ondary schools to accommodate
then1. A U. N. crash program
has been started to handle
5000 Of these children. |
But the Congolese govern
ment operations have shown
progress in other administrative
tunetions-ranging from upping
mai deliveries to handing out
parking tickets.
The United States today
donated $4,000 to the U. N.
and the Congo central govern
ment for relief Of victims of
rising flood waters of the Congo