§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have been approached by the Swiss Government in regard to the reported request to that Government to mediate on the present protracted hostilities in Nigeria.]
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether there has been any kind of contact with the Swiss Government regarding mediation, and if this is at all related to the report that Emperor Haile Selassie is engaged in yet another attempt in this direction?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we have, of course, close relations with Switzerland, and naturally exchange views. The Swiss Government have themselves said that if they were to mediate it must be on the basis that both sides would welcome it. So far as the Emperor of Ethiopia is concerned, I have seen the reports in the Press but would not wish to make any further comment.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, in view of my noble friend's reference to the initiative of Emperor Haile Selassie, may I ask whether our Minister in Lagos, during his visit there, has been encouraging this hopeful step towards peace?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the views of the Federal Government are well known: that they are willing and anxious 280 to talk with Biafran authorities if there is any meaningful chance of bringing about a peaceful settlement. Therefore there is no reason for us to press the Federal authorities. I think this is now a matter which we should leave with the Emperor of Ethiopia.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, if I may follow with a further supplementary question, may I ask my noble friend whether, according to his information, the attempted mediation by the Swiss Government has now lapsed?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, so far as I understand it, mediation was considered by the Swiss authorities, but I have no information whether it went any further.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, following the answer which my noble friend gave before the last supplementary question, may I further ask him: how can we except the Biafran authorities to mediate or discuss matters with us at all while we continue to provide their enemy with arms?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I think the noble Baroness will see that I was answering a rather different question. It was in regard to mediation by the Emperor of Ethiopia.