 In January 1959 , Patrice Lumumba , the Prime Minister of Congo , stayed at the hotel and met with Sir Edward <unk> , the Ghanaian High Commissioner in London and others in the restaurant . The event was picketed by <unk> , who in concern with human rights issues in Congo at the time , demonstrated outside of the hotel , displaying banners such as " <unk> OF <unk> – GO HOME " and issuing racial epithets . <unk> was attacked as he left the hotel , although it has been speculated that he was mistaken for Lumumba . 
