Nigeria (Hansard, 17 February 1969)

§ 1. Mr. Frank Allaun
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest attempts to end the war in Nigeria.

§ 30. Mr. Barnes
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's latest efforts to promote a cease-fire in the war between Nigeria and Biafra.

§ 37. Mr. Henig
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further initiatives he proposes with a view to the cessation of the civil war in Nigeria.

§ 67. Mr. James Johnson
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he is taking to promote a cease-fire in the Nigerian civil war.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Maurice Foley)
An opportunity to resume informal discussions between the Nigerian Government and Colonel Ojukwu's representatives arose at the time of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference. The leader of the Nigerian delegation, Chief Awolowo, then repeatedly affirmed that he was ready to see Colonel Ojukwu's representatives without pre-conditions. I urged them to respond to this offer, but most regrettably they failed to do so. My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, has already told the House on 21st of January of the steps that he took to try to promote a meeting. Her Majesty's Government remain ready to assist the further efforts which African organisations are now making to secure a peaceful settlement.—[Vol. 776, c. 253–4.]

§ Mr. Allaun
Will my hon. Friend comment on the general principles of Dr. Azikiwe's peace plan, which seems to offer a reasonable compromise, particularly since all other approaches have so far failed?

§ Mr. Foley
I have not as yet seen the detailed proposals of Dr. Azikiwe. I am sure that, speaking as an Ibo and a former President of Nigeria, his views will De given the widest possible attention. It is for those to whom the proposals are addressed in the first instance to consider whether they are willing to accept them.

§ Mr. Barnes
Would my hon. Friend accept that the stability of life in Biafra and the determination to fight for some kind of separate existence are such that no military end to the war is in view at the moment, and would he not agree that as this problem is not capable of a military solution there should be a reappraisal in London of the situation which now applies?

§ Mr. Foley
I am aware that my hon. Friend has just come back from that part of Africa, and I am delighted to see him and am looking forward to talking to him about his experiences. We have always maintained that both sides must come together and that they must talk. The first prerequisite is a negotiated ceasefire, and then a whole series of things, including relief, a total arms embargo, the security of the Ibos, peace talks and a negotiated settlement, can happen. These are the things which we want to see.

§ Mr. Henig
Is my hon. Friend aware of the fact that Colonel Ojukwu has suggested that there should now be a meeting without any preconditions at all simply to arrange the terms of a ceasefire? Does my hon. Friend support this idea?

§ Mr. Foley
My hon. Friend could not have listened to what I said. An offer was made here in London to Colonel Ojukwu's friends for such discussions without preconditions. The fact that they did not take place must, clearly, be attributable to Colonel Ojukwu.

§ Sir Alec Douglas-Home
I wonder if the hon. Gentleman could elucidate that a little further. I understood that Colonel Ojukwu, earlier in the year at any rate, proposed that there should be negotiations without preconditions provided there was a cease-fire. It is within the recollection of the House that the Prime Minister, in his statement on 30th January, said that he would not negotiate without, I think, recognition of Biafra's nationhood. There 4 is a discrepancy here which I hope the hon. Gentleman will clear up.

§ Mr. Foley
I am very happy to clear this up. What the Federal Government are willing to concede is that once the unity of Nigeria is accepted, everything else is negotiable. The question for them is to get a negotiated cease-fire, and all these other things can flow from it. The notion of a cease-fire without conditions brings us back to what this war is all about.

§ Sir Alec Douglas-Home
The hon. Gentleman slightly misunderstood me, I think. I am dealing with Colonel Ojukwu's position. Does he say he will negotiate without preconditions provided there is a cease-fire, or does he say he will not negotiate unless his nationhood is first recognised?

§ Mr. Foley
It is rather difficult to follow all the pronouncements which Colonel Ojukwu has made over the last few months. I do not want to disparage him, for he is in a very difficult situation, but the plain fact is that at this moment there has been no public statement from Colonel Ojukwu of his willingness to negotiate on the basis of one Nigeria.

§ Mr. James Griffiths
Is my hon. Friend aware of the proposals by Dr. Azikiwe yesterday, and the statement made by Chief Awolowo, the No. 2 in the Lagos Government, that he does not regard the existing structure as permanent but capable of readjustment? In view of this, would my hon. Friend consider asking these two experienced leaders in Nigeria to meet together? I think that if they met they would find a common basis on which peace could be negotiated.

§ Mr. Foley
Yes, I am aware of the comments made by Chief Awolowo in his book, and, indeed, I discussed them with him. He has made it quite clear, which is the understanding we have, that the Federal Government's attitude is that provided one Nigeria is accepted everything is negotiable, the number of States. powers, competencies and so on.

§ Mr. James Griffiths
Will my hon. Friend call them together?

§ 9. Mr. Lane
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 5 Affairs what discussions he has had this year with the other Governments principally concerned towards achieving an agreed limitation on the supply of arms to both sides in the Nigerian war; and with what result.

§ 63. Mr. Tilney
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further consultations he has had with the French Government about measures to be taken with a view to ending the supply of arms to both sides in the Nigerian civil war; and if he will make a statement.

§ 72. Mr. Padley
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take a further initiative to seek a cease-fire in Nigeria and an international embargo on the supply of arms to both sides of the conflict.

§ Mr. Foley
None, Sir. As my right hon. Friend explained to the House on 16th December—[Vol. 775, c. 846 and c. 236]—the French deny that they are supplying arms, while the Russians have made it clear that they continue to support the Federal Government.

§ Mr. Lane
Would not the hon. Gentleman accept that, in the eyes of a great many people inside and outside this country, and contrary to the impression that one of his colleagues gave during Questions last Monday, this country still has a special responsibility in the matter? Would he not agree that some further initiative by Britain inside or outside the United Nations could not do any harm and might do some good?

§ Mr. Foley
We are anxious to take and have taken initiatives. As my right hon. Friend told the House on 16th December,

§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyon
Would my hon. Friend agree that the question of arms cannot be divorced from the political issues involved in the war, and that the principal political issue involved—namely, one Nigeria or two—is not to be determined by a plebiscite amongst 6 the minority tribes in the Eastern Region, as has been suggested by Dr. Azikiwe?

§ Mr. Foley
I would prefer not to comment in detail on Dr. Azikiwe's proposals. I would rather see them given a fair hearing and judge what the reaction is. In order to get an arms embargo the first step is to get a negotiated cease-fire, when an arms embargo can be enforced at the receiving end in Nigeria, together with relief to those concerned and the start of discussions about a future constitution for Nigeria.

§ Mr. Tilney
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that recent visitors to Biafra have seen arms from eight different countries being used by the Biafrans? Can he say with what countries he has had contact and consultations with a view to stopping these arms supplies?

§ Mr. Foley
In the course of events, we have had discussions with the French, and they are aware of our views. The problem of arms in Biafra and, for that matter, Federal Nigeria, is that there are eight or nine sources in Europe and that these are identifiable by those who have been there. This makes it more difficult to get an embargo agreed, because both sides obtain weapons from a multiplicity of sources, even from countries which say that they are applying an embargo.

§ Mr. James Griffiths
As one of those who have identified arms from eight different European countries, may I remind my hon. Friend that they are being supplied to both sides? They come from a scandalous black market which has been set up in Europe. Will my hon. Friend take action in the Council of Europe to stop these supplies?

§ Mr. Foley
I agree with the first part of what my right hon. Friend says. As for the second part, there is a Motion before the Council of Europe, tabled by one of my hon. Friends, drawing attention to this scandalous black market.