Holding the Ring
FT HE original object of the United Nationt intervention in the Congo was to restore order and, then, to hold the ring while tlic ordinary democratic processes began to opcsale to provide the country with an administratioa• But ordinary democratic processes do not. and in fact cannot. operate in such circumstanee$ Neither the machinery nor the will or knowledge to work it exists. And inevitably. the UN htl found itself tending to be regarded as in ilia government—replacing the one that %+ as re' moved, and preferable lo it. but still standing it the way of Congolese self-determination.
Dag Harnmarskjold must accept some of Ihn responsibility– not, indeed, for the situation tint for the way in which he has left it open to re exploited by the Russians. He would have done better to have kept away, giving the UN grcatef flexibility in dealing with the Congo; as it is. he has identified the organisition so closely \, ith hit Congo policies that the mistakes which have be° made—inevitable in so experimental a step– can be blamed on the UN's strength rather than sn its weakness. If he had delegated authority would have been easier to save the UN fr0111 becoming identified with the anti-Lumumba eir ments, thereby allowing not only Khrushal° but Nkrumah, Nasser and others to raise the 'Colonialism!' cry.
This is particularly unfortunate, because ii provides Lumilmba' With at least the appearance of fighting for a'eattse. 'His supporters naturs°, find it easier to put aside their growing fears ftle he is cracked, When they see the men who are,i praising him. In Mr: K's case the support n understandable- -the niore mischief he can 11131''• in Africa the better; but there is much lc excuse for either Nkrumah or Nasser. Both them, evidently. are 'determined to see events i terms of black and white. Lumumba was file.,j nationalist leader --therefore he must be a g° man.
But now that the UN is so deeply commi0/, in the Congo it cannot extricate itself; to do would be destructive of its prestige. And thcrc a chance--though, so long as Lumumba is and at liberty, the prospects are not very hopefLi --that the Congolese, weary of uncertainty violence, may resign themselves to living undef.ii form of trusteeship, if one can be devel1r',,. which will work, under UN auspices. Certain' it is too late now for the UN to turn back.
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