§ Q2. Mr. Winnickasked the Prime Minister what recent consultations he has had with Commonwealth Prime Ministers over the Nigerian situation.
§ The Prime MinisterI have regular exchanges with other Commonwealth Prime Ministers on matters of mutual concern.
§ Mr. WinnickCan the Prime Minister give the House now any further information about emergency large-scale relief to the people most in need in the stricken areas? Would he care to make any comments on current Government policy on arms supplies to the Federal side?
§ The Prime MinisterFull reports about emergency relief were given to the House when the House last met to discuss this subject. The problem still has been that of getting food and other supplies, which 577 are there in abundant quantity, through to those who need them. This has been partly due to obstruction, which we regret, of facilities for road transport through Federal Nigeria to the areas of the fighting, and there have also been some difficulties about carriage by air. My hon. Friend will be aware that my noble Friend, Lord Shepherd, who recently went on my instructions to try to get further moves for a cease-fire established, also spent a great deal of time trying to deal with the problem of moving supplies. One of the big problems has been the difficulties which have arisen between the Red Cross and the authorities on both sides concerned.
§ Mr. Hugh FraserSurely the Prime Minister must realise that we now lack all moral authority in Nigeria and that I he whole House, or a great part of it, and the country are still shocked by the provision of arms and the fact that if we were not providing arms we might be in a position to arbitrate between the two sides.
§ The Prime MinisterNot even the right hon. Gentleman could be more wrong in that statement. My noble Friend could never have gone to Nigeria to carry out the important mediatory mission which he has attempted to secure if we had followed the policy advocated by the right hon. Gentleman, but he will be aware that many people in Africa, including Nigerians, on both sides, feel that this is more predominantly an African matter than a Commonwealth one. We may regret that, but the O.A.U., under the leadership of the Emperor of Ethiopia, has struggled with might and main to get the two sides together. The right hon. Gentleman will have seen the judgment of the last O.A.U. Conference, which is very different from his judgment on these matters.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunWill my right hon. Friend ask the Commonwealth Governments to make a joint approach for the sending of Commonwealth observers to both sides for an immediate cease-fire and for relief to be sent in a massive way to both sides?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend knows—and he has been fair about this—that we have been pressing for a ceasefire from the time the fighting began, with 578 the help of other Commonwealth countries. Indeed, before the fighting began we were all working to try to prevent an outbreak of fighting. My hon. Friend will also have seen that at the O.A.U. Conference the vast majority of Commonwealth countries in Africa, and other African countries, took a line which I think is closer to that of Her Majesty's Government than that which my hon. Friend, very sincerely, has been putting forward.
§ Mr. TilneyWill the right hon. Gentleman urge the Governments of Zambia, Tanzania and other friendly Governments which have recognised Biafra to bring the maximum pressure to bear on Colonel Ojukwu to accept a negotiated surrender, with a peace-keeping force, thereby avoiding carnage for his people, and will he at the same time use his influence with the Federal Government to get them to grant an amnesty to all rebel leaders?
§ The Prime MinisterNo one would not want to use the word "surrender". I do not think that that helps the situation forward. What we have pressed for is a cease-fire on the basis of recognition of the Federal system in Nigeria, with adequate safeguards for the very fine people who live in the Biafran area. Throughout we have pressed for and used all our power to ensure that there would be no genocide or massacres or punitive measures as and when the Federal troops went through. I think that that has been our position throughout. I discussed this matter with the President of Zambia but, and it is no secret, he takes a very different view from us, and certain other countries which have recently lent recognition to Biafra, and some which at this late stage have started encouraging them with supplies of arms and in other ways, must bear responsibility for the continuation of the fighting and bloodshed.