§ 3.35 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, with the permission of the House I should like to repeat a Statement which is being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the relief situation in Nigeria.
"In the communiqué issued on July 1 after talks with the relief agencies, the Federal Government undertook to permit the transport of food, seeds, drugs and clothing to the rebel-held areas by air after due inspection in Lagos or at any other inspection points in Federal areas that might be agreed. The Federal Government maintained their ban on night flights but reaffirmed their willingness to allow day flights. These would take place every day between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. This was accepted by all the relief representatives present except for 783 the representative of the I.C.R.C., who was unable to commit his organisation without instructions. The Federal Government also made it clear that there was no question of expelling the Red Cross, and that in taking over co-ordination of relief work within Federal territory, the Government wished to work out a scheme for the orderly transfer of responsibilities in consultation with the International Red Cross, the Nigerian Red Cross, the other relief agencies and the Nigerian Commission for Rehabilitation.
"Two things are needed to make the Federal offer on daylight flights effective: the co-operation of the relief agencies, and acceptance by the rebel authorities. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State accordingly visited Geneva on July 2 for urgent talks with the President and senior officials of the International Red Cross. My honourable friend made known to the International Red Cross our willingness to help and our strongly held view that the future of relief operations should be worked out together by the I.C.R.C. and the Federal Government. He found full agreement on this point.
"I myself"—
that is the Secretary of State—
"saw Dr. Arikpo, the Nigerian Commissioner for External Affairs, in London on July 5. He confirmed his Government's willingness to co-operate fully over the provision of relief by air, land or river, provided that reasonable arrangements are worked out first in the manner proposed.
"Dr. Arikpo assured me"—
again that is the Secretary of State—
"that the Federal Government would agree to neutral observers at the inspection points in Federal territory as a guarantee against tampering with relief supplies and an assurance that the inspection procedures would be speedy. He explained that the project for taking relief into the rebel area by the Cross river had not yet been agreed in detail.
"We were able to arrange a meeting in London between Dr. Arikpo and Professor Freymond, Vice-President of 784 the I.C.R.C. Professor Freymond confirmed that the Red Cross would be willing to operate daylight flights as now proposed by the Federal Government, subject to detailed agreement on guarantees of safety for Red Cross crews, aircraft and personnel. The I.C.R.C. are sending a senior representative to Lagos early this week for a continuation of the talks which were begun in London at the weekend. I greatly hope that these contacts mark a new beginning in better relations of trust and co-operation between the Federal Government and the International Red Cross.
"The position, therefore, is that the Nigerian Government is ready to let relief go through on conditions which are in themselves reasonable and are acceptable to the relief agencies at the Lagos Conference. Colonel Ojukwu's agreement is now vital. We are accordingly considering urgently with the Governments and relief organisations concerned how best to secure his agreement without delay so that the flow of relief may be resumed at the earliest possible moment."
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for repeating this quite encouraging Statement, and I would say straight away that, so far as I can see, it represents quite substantial and significant progress. I personally very much hope—and I am sure that this is the general view of everybody in your Lordships' House—that the further discussions envisaged will in fact prove successful and that this looming tragedy may be averted. Meanwhile, I think it would be right and proper for me to congratulate those concerned, particularly the Under-Secretary and the Secretary of State, upon the part that they played in making possible such progress as has been achieved. May I put one question to the noble Lord? Can he tell us anything more about how it is proposed to go about the really essential step of securing the agreement of Colonel Ojukwu to these proposed arrangements?
§ LORD WADEMy Lords, I should like to join in thanking the noble Lord for repeating this Statement, which appears to be encouraging. Would the noble Lord agree that a policy of starving the Biafrans would be not only morally indefensible but also militarily misguided, 785 since it would strengthen world opinion in favour of Biafra's cause and would achieve no military objective? Am I to understand from the Statement that the "reasonable arrangements" referred to mean that there will be no night flights? Secondly, with regard to the statement that Colonel Ojukwu's agreement is now vital, could we have a little more clarification on that point? Precisely what is the specific point on which agreement is required; and are consultations taking place between the relief organisations and the Biafran leader?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am grateful for the reception that the noble Earl, Lord Jellicoe, and the noble Lord, Lord Wade, have given to this Statement. I am sure that the House will agree that very great credit must be given to my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and, if I may say so, in particular to Maurice Foley who has laboured so hard during the last week (which was a difficult week) to find ground for new arrangements between the Federal Government and the International Red Cross.
The noble Earl asked me about the essential step; that is, the obtaining of Colonel Ojukwu's agreement. In the Statement that I have just repeated, I said that we were in conversation with Governments and other agencies. I would wish not to be pressed at this particular moment. There is much going on that is very delicate. I think that at this stage perhaps the less said, the better. In regard to the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Wade, about it being morally indefensible to starve the Biafran, or Ibo, people, I would agree with the noble Lord. This has always been the view of the Federal Government, as I have pointed out on many occasions in this House. It is perhaps unique for a Government or a country to be willing to provide food for peoples in a territory that they are blockading. The Federal Government are doing this knowing that those supplies have been used as a cover for the military reinforcement of that territory. I think it is something for which the Federal Government have not had enough credit. I hope that one day when history is written, full credit will be given to the enlightened leadership and humanity of the Federal Government.
786 Clearly, the point at issue at this moment is that the Federal Government will not permit night flights for the reasons I have already mentioned: the manner in which previous night flights have been abused. They are prepared to have daylight flights. We now must try to persuade Colonel Ojukwu that there should be daylight flights and that he should not insist on night flights which have been used in the way that I have already described. This is the agreement that we must now seek with Colonel Ojukwu. I hope that he will feel that he has a duty to his people to see that the vast quantities of food and medicine that exist in Africa can quickly be flown to the people who are no doubt starving to-day.
THE LORD BISHOP OF ST. ALBANSMy Lords, may I say that I think it appropriate that somebody from these Benches should welcome the Statement repeated by the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd and add the hope that all possible pressure will be brought on Colonel Ojukwu to allow daylight flights.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I apologise; but I did put the Question to which this Statement in some sense is a reply. Is my noble friend Lord Shepherd aware that those who take my view on this matter very much hope that Colonel Ojukwu will accept these proposals; because while the proposals imply the authority of the Federal Government they also imply international supervisory authority? May I ask three questions? The first is this. Has my noble friend seen the statement from Geneva from the International Red Cross repudiating—no; that is too strong a word; declining to accept the communiqué in which it is stated that the International Red Cross have accepted the agreement which has been reached in London? Secondly, in view of the terrible hunger—particularly of the Biafran children; which some of us have seen—would my noble friend be prepared, before these new arrangements are put into operation, to accept—and to urge its acceptance of the Lagos Government—temporary continued relief by night flights if arms were not taken by night flights? Thirdly, in view of the fact that there are large stocks of food 787 and medical supplies at Sao Tome, Libreville and Cotonou, would it not be possible to have international observers at these places to inspect relief supplies which will be going into Biafra?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, like my noble friend I have seen a report of a statement made in Geneva. I have not seen—and I do not think my noble friend has seen—that statement. All I would say to him is this. I have seen the minutes of the meeting over the week-end. I am hopeful that what was agreed by those present will be put into effect. In regard to the possibility of temporary night flights, my right honourable friend pressed this on Dr. Arikpo on Saturday and again yesterday. I understand that the question of temporary night flights will be taken up in Lagos by the senior representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In regard to the large relief stocks, and whether these could be flown in, perhaps on a temporary basis with international observers outside, this again is a point that we have considered, but the Federal Government maintain that supplies must go through Federal territory. I understand, however, that arrangements can be made to ensure very little delay at the airport at which the aircraft arrive for inspection; because Dr. Arikpo has assured us that they wish these aircraft to make as many journeys as possible during daylight hours.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords if I am not contravening the Rules of the House, may I ask the noble Lord how much food and sustenance is at this very moment being flown into Biafra?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, does the noble Earl mean within the last few days? I gather that there have been one or two flights made by some of the relief agencies nightly; but clearly they cannot amount to anything like enough to satisfy the needs, particularly of high-protein food, for children and old people.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords may I take it that the present situation, what the Americans call "as of now", is not satisfactory from the point of view of the Biafrans themselves?
§ LORD SHEPHERDIt is very difficult to know to what extent hunger and star- 788 vation exist; but whether they do or do not, clearly they can and will arise unless we can get high-protein foods in as quickly as possible. This is why we have devoted so much thought and energy during the last week or so to trying to mend the dispute between the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Federal Government.
§ LORD HUNTMy Lords, will the Minister say what is the position about the Joint Church Agencies in relation to the agreement given, as he said, by the supplying agencies to the Federal Military Government's policy?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I understand that the Joint Church Agencies were present at Lagos, and I think it was there that they gave their agreement to the proposals of the Federal Government.
§ LORD HUNTMy Lords, may I ask one more supplementary question? Does that include the policy regarding the ban on night flying? Have the Joint Church Agencies agreed to observe this ban?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I think it true to say that all the agencies have for many months been pressing Colonel Ojukwu that they should be allowed to carry out daylight flights, because clearly that was much safer for their crews and their aircraft, and also because larger quantities could be brought in. But they have been undertaking night flights because daylight flights were not possible.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I wish to ask questions in the spirit of this House, but my Question originally covered also the cease-fire and the embargo on arms, and therefore, when I was told that the Answer would be given now, I asked whether I could have permission to refer to those two matters and, with the consent of the House, I will do so. May I ask, regarding the cease-fire, whether the position now is that the Federal Government desire negotiations without conditions while the Biafran Administration asks for a cease-fire before negotiations? If that is the case, is not a solution possible by having talks where the cease-fire could be the first item on the agenda? And may I ask whether the Government will press that on Lagos as others are pressing it on Biafra?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I have said on many occasions that we will use such influence as we can to bring the two parties to the negotiating table. Three visits of mine last year were directly concerned with such an effort. We have also given our support to the O.A.U., and Emperor Haile Selassie has worked very hard indeed to bring the two sides together; but so far we have failed. I do not know whether my noble friend has seen a statement that I have had reported to me, made in Paris on July 3, in which Dr. Arikpo said that he ardently hoped to see peace talks and that these could be commenced very soon. He went on:
We should be delighted to meet Colonel Ojukwu and work out with him a way to stop this war.My Lords, I have no doubt at all of the willingness of the Federal Government to meet without conditions. I only hope that Colonel Ojukwu will find some way, whether it is secretly or otherwise, to meet his brothers from Nigeria and bring this bloody war to an end.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, on the third point, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that the Political Committee of the Council of Europe has adopted a resolution in favour of an embargo on arms by all European countries and in view of this fact, whether Her Majesty's Government would support the proposal?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I have replied to that question on a number of occasions. I have said that we should be very happy and very ready to take part in an embargo on arms to both sides if both sides made it a condition for talks. That is our view, and I hope that one of these days this may be brought about.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend again whether he would not agree that, if we continue to supply arms, all the other things he has told us about this afternoon could be compared to putting a plaster on a running sore?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I can only say that if we were unilaterally to give up supplying arms to a Commonwealth country, I cannot see any way in which it would bring this war to an end 790 more quickly. I have given in your Lordships' House on many occasions the reasons for the British Government's support of the Federal Government, and I can find no reason to depart from what I have said before.