Nigeria (Hansard, 13 October 1969)

§ 4. Mr. Winnick
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest efforts by Her Majesty's Government to secure a ceasefire in the Nigerian civil war.

§ 25. Mr. Barnes
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest steps taken by Her Majesty's Government to promote a ceasefire in the war between Nigeria and Biafra.

§ 27. Mr. Tilney
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken during the last 10 weeks to end the Nigerian civil war.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Maurice Foley)
The Organisation of African Unity passed a resolution on 10th September by an overwhelming majority with no opposing votes appealing to both parties to agree to preserve the unity of Nigeria, to accept the immediate suspension of hostilities and the opening of negotiations to restore peace and ensure security and equal rights. The Consultative Committee on Nigeria was invited to offer its good offices to facilitate these negotiations. The Federal Government accepted this resolution but Colonel Ojukwu rejected it, though negotiations under the auspices of the resolution, or talks without preconditions offered by the Federal Government remain open to him.
We will continue to do our utmost to help bring the two sides together and will welcome any settlement freely arrived at between the two parties.

§ Mr. Winnick
Is my hon. Friend aware that a number of us who are not out of sympathy with the Biafran case are sad and distressed that the latest offer of mercy flights was rejected by the Biafran leadership? Is it not essential that every effort be made to stop the appalling hunger and starvation which is taking place in the distressed areas? What rôle is Britain playing in this question of mercy flights, in view of the fact that we continue to supply arms to one side?

§ Mr. Foley
There is another Question on the Order Paper on relief.

§ Mr. Barnes
Has the hon. Gentleman noticed the resolution passed by the Labour Party conference for the second year about stopping the supply of arms? Does he agree that there was a time when the Labour Party leadership felt obliged to fight against conference decisions with which it disagreed? If the hon. Gentleman is to persist in this policy, which has achieved so little in two years, does he not at least feel that he should try to drum up more support for it within the party?

§ Mr. Foley
I have noted the conference resolution on this subject. I am 14 aware of the fears and anxieties and I give full weight to the sincerity of those who spoke and participated. However, I cannot accept the conclusion that to prohibit the purchase of arms by Nigeria would enable us to bring about a peaceful settlement. It might conceivably aggravate the situation and confirm Colonel Ojukwu in his continued resistance.

§ Mr. Tilney
Cannot Her Majesty's Government collaborate with other Powers to bring maximum pressure on both sides: the Ibos to accept some form of unity and the Federal Government to accept an international force?

§ Mr. Foley
Yes. While recalling the O.A.U. resolution, I should point out that there has been, and still is, intense diplomatic activity in Africa on this question with a view to getting some kind of talks started.
Her Majesty's Government remain in continual close relationship with the Federal Government, and we see leading figures from the secessionists when they pass through London.

§ Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Did the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend have a chance to talk about an arms embargo to the representatives of the Soviet Union and France at the United Nations lately?

§ Mr. Foley
I should require notice of that Question.

§ Mr. Frank Allaun
Will the Government support the appeal by Lord Brockway's most distinguished Committee to both sides for immediate negotiations, particularly as the Biafrans no longer insist on a ceasefire before negotiations begin?

§ Mr. Foley
Let me be absolutely clear. When Colonel Ojukwu wrote to Lord Brockway making his proposals we were instrumental in forwarding them immediately to the O.A.U., which took them into consideration in its discussions. The Federal Government are willing to talk today or tomorrow unconditionally on this subject, but I believe that Colonel Ojukwu has not yet replied formally to the O.A.U. resolution at Addis Ababa.

§ 26. Mr. Barnes
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Nigerian Federal Government 15 about the resumption of International Red Cross relief supplies to Biafra.

§ Mr. Foley
We were in close touch with the Federal Government during the negotiations which led to a signed agreement between the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Nigerian Government for daylight relief flights. Unfortunately Colonel Ojukwu has so far rejected the agreement, thus preventing adequate relief from reaching the people in the area he controls. I hope that all who have influence with him will urge him to put the needs of the sick and starving first and therefore to agree to the International Red Cross plan.

§ Mr. Barnes
Does my hon. Friend agree that it is still the case that almost all the reports involving both sides are "phoney" in the sense that the object is to manoeuvre the other party into the intransigent position? Since the humanitarian need is so great, could not Her Majesty's Government seek to break the deadlock by putting forward a proposal such as that put forward by Mr. Hubert Humphrey in the United States?

§ Mr. Foley
I sincerely hope that the deadlock may be broken in the next few days. I understand that a high-level mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross will be flying in to talk to Colonel Ojukwu and to seek agreement on its daylight flights. There are clearly military objections on both sides, and the real question is to try to reach a compromise which guarantees that relief will be able to fly in by day to those in need, and that those who want to pursue their military objectives can do so without harming such relief flights.

§ Mr. Hugh Fraser
Without going into the detail of the two procedures proposed, one for Biafra and one for Nigeria, should there be a breakdown, would Her Majesty's Government consider, should there be a further failure on the part of the Red Cross to find agreement—nothing has gone in from the Red Cross for four months—giving more assistance to Joint Church Aid, which is flying in help every night to the starving people of Biafra?

§ Mr. Foley
In the four months since the I.C.R.C. stopped flying, 'planes have been at Dahomey in Cotanou. Relief in considerable quantities has been there and it has only needed the word of Colonel 16 Ojukwu for it all to be flown in. In so far as relief is there and is not being used, a great deal has already been transferred to Joint Church Aid, and this is being flown in by night. Thus, our contributions to the I.C.R.C. and the contributions of other countries which have gone to buy these stocks are being used in that they are being flown in by Joint Church Aid at night.