§ Q5. Mr. Barnesasked the Prime Minister if he will invite Lord Hunt to seek to make a further visit to both sides in the war between Nigeria and Biafra in order to assess the relief situation, in view 1570 of the interruption of the International Red Cross operation.
§ The Prime MinisterI would certainly not rule out my hon. Friend's proposal at an appropriate time. But I think we should await the outcome of the further talks now being held between the Federal Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Lagos.
§ Mr. BarnesWould not my right hon. Friend agree that if relief flights into Biafra are to be resumed, both sides must agree a formula? Are the Government prepared to use their influence to try to get such a formula, or will they stand pat on the way in which Nigeria wants to handle relief operations?
§ The Prime MinisterThis was explained by my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary in his statement on Monday, and this matter will be further developed, no doubt, in the debate this afternoon. We have shown great flexibility. For example, when I was in Nigeria in March and during Lord Hunt's visit last year we expressed ourselves as willing to explore a number of possibilities. One of the most obvious is to use surface routes, because the food is there and could be rolling into the territory concerned and be there within hours. Another is daylight flights. One must be suspicious of the reasons why daylight flights have not been considered acceptable. There are also such proposals as the Cross River route which Lord Hunt particularly investigated when he was there. We are not standing pat on a particular suggestion. We want to get food there, and we want it dissociated from the politics in the area.
§ Mr. Hugh FraserIs the Prime Minister aware that, contrary to the announcement on the B.B.C., a Division will be called tonight on the total failure of the Government's Nigerian policy?
§ The Prime MinisterI am responsible neither for what is said on the B.B.C. in speculation about activities in the House, nor for the actions of the right hon. Gentleman. He has to answer to himself for any decisions he takes in the House.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunWhy not consider Biafra's proposals for daylight flights supervised by international and Lagos observers, particularly as this morning 1571 Joint Church Aid declared that the Lagos plan was completely unrealistic?
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend made it quite clear that, as a result of his talk with Dr. Arikpo last weekend, we had pressed and had had accepted a proposal under which there would be international observers, ourselves or others, at the loading of the planes, first to make it clear that there was no tampering, about which there has been some anxiety, and, second, to make sure that there was no undue delay. But every time an offer is made the situation changes, and I cannot help feeling that the real motive, which has been expressed, is an insistence to be able to keep the arms-running planes flying in with the relief planes and—
§ Mr. HefferWhy not?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend asks "Why not?". If we are talking about starvation and malnutrition, as we all are, and the need to get relief there, the important thing is to get the food there by the best route without insisting on having that food contaminated with arms supplies.