HL Deb 15 July 1969 vol 304 cc121-3

2.7 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discuss with European Governments and the Soviet Union the proposal for an embargo on arms to both sides in the Nigerian-Biafran war.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)

My Lords, the inquiries which we have already made suggest that no effective embargo could at present be agreed and that an arms embargo in the circumstances of this war will be effective only if it is policed and forms part of a cease-fire agreement reached by the two sides.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend, may I ask whether, in view of the almost unanimous opinion in Europe (as expressed in the resolution of the Political Committee of the Council of Europe and W.E.U.) it would not be possible to approach the American Government, which is already sympathetic on this matter, to urge upon the Soviet Government that they should end the supply of arms so as to make an embargo all round?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, our contacts with the Soviet Government do not lead us to believe that they would cooperate in this matter. While I sympathise with the objective of the resolution adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, I must also point out that a resolution of the Organisation of African Unity called on all members of the United Nations to refrain from any action likely to impede the peace or the unity of Nigeria. An arms embargo alone would not be a practical step towards a cease-fire. We must, my Lords, work towards both.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether, in view of the fact that international inspection of relief is now accepted in principle, it would not also be possible to have international inspection of arms supplies in Nigeria and Biafra?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend has studied many of the wars and civil wars in history and I think he would agree that one of the most difficult tasks which has confronted anyone, even when peace was on the verge of achievement, was control of the supply of arms.

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, would my noble friend not agree that; here is a curious dichotomy in Soviet policy in that their commercial side seems to do a number of things which are directly contrary to their interests in international affairs?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the Soviets do many strange things, but I do not think that it is for me to answer for their actions to-day.