68. Editorial Note
On May 13, President Kasavubu announced at the Coquilhatville conference that he would convoke Parliament immediately after the conclusion of the conference, and he requested the assistance of the United Nations to assure the members’ security. Between May 14 and May 28, the conference adopted 21 resolutions setting forth the principles for a new federal state with an increased number of provinces. The Congolese Government was directed to establish a commission to work with U.N. assistance to prepare a constitution according to those principles, to be ratified under democratic procedures. In the interim, the existing Parliament was to remain in existence.
The conference concluded on May 28. In his closing speech on that date, Kasavubu praised the resolutions of the conference but warned that they required ratification by Parliament. He did not indicate the date when Parliament would convene. For texts of the 21 resolutions, see Benoit Verhaegen, Congo 1961, pages 74–94; for text of Kasavubu’s May 13 announcement, see ibid., page 392; for text of his May 28 speech, see ibid., pages 73–74.