§ 3.20 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 it was suggested after consultation with the Foreign Office that Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, V.C., should visit Biafra, prior to the Prime Minister's journey to Lagos in March, 1969, to secure information about Biafran intentions; whether Group Captain Cheshire presented a report; whether it was considered by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and what conclusions were reached upon it.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, the suggestion that Group Captain Cheshire might undertake this visit was initially made privately to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by an unofficial source in January, 1969, well before the Prime Minister's journey to Lagos was contemplated. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office welcomed (as they had done in many other cases) Group Captain Cheshire's willingness to visit Colonel Ojukwu for the purpose of building up a picture of the Biafran attitude. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office discussed the visit with Group Captain Cheshire before he went. His journey was made in a private capacity and the arrangements were entirely his own. After his visit, Group Captain Cheshire reported his conclusions to Her Majesty's Government orally and in writing. His impressions were carefully considered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and, together with other evidence of Colonel Ojukwu's attitude, have been fully taken into account.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while appreciating that very full reply, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that in view of the hopeful developments which have taken place since these interviews I do not want to press questions about the past, except about a particular proposal which Group Captain Cheshire made? May I ask what is the Government's response to his proposal that there should be an aircraft carrier in international waters which would carry observers to the Uli airstrip, to prevent military action on either side? Further, may I ask this question? Even if British participation in such a project is not acceptable to Biafra, would Her Majesty's 1067 Government encourage the United States of America to extend its assurance into action, and accept the co-operation of Governments like that of Canada in a project which might bring relief to these million starving children in Biafra?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I have seen the reported suggestion of Group Captain Cheshire about an aircraft carrier, but I think this would raise very considerable problems, because Nigeria is a sovereign State and clearly we should need to have the agreement of the Federal Government, as I suppose we should need to have the agreement of the Biafran authorities. In regard to the airlift, I hope the House will forgive me if I give the noble Lord a perhaps unusually lengthy answer, but I think this is well worth stating.
On September 13 the International Red Cross signed an agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria allowing an internationally inspected relief airlift during daylight hours for an experimental period, with good prospects for renewal. But the Biafran authorities refused to accept such flights, apparently because they feared that the daylight airlift might be misused for a surprise attack on Uli airfield. They therefore asked for assurances about the good faith of the Nigerian Government in this respect.
The United States Secretary of State, Mr. Rogers, issued a statement on November 13, in which he stated that, to meet the Biafran concern, the United States Government, at President Nixon's direction, took the following initiatives:
"1. Sought and received the solemn assurance of the Federal Government of Nigeria that it would ensure that no hostile military action would be taken against the International Red Cross relief aircraft.
2. After consultations with us,"—
that is, the United States—
"other Governments agreed to offer impartial observers to accompany International Red Cross aircraft on their relief flights.
3. Ambassador Ferguson went to West Africa to give the Biafrans the specific pledge of the Federal Government of Nigeria as to the inviolability of the International Red Cross relief 1068 flights. On October 24, 1969, the Biafran authorities formally rejected this assurance."
In the light of this action by the United States Government, putting as it did the prestige and the good faith of the United States Government behind the assurances which had been given, your Lordships may well wonder what further assurances are required to persuade the Biafran authorities to allow relief to flow to the people for whose welfare they have assumed responsibility. My Lords, I should wish still to know what further assurances are necessary.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that I have indicated my regret that General Ojukwu did not accept that assurance? But is it not now the case that we must try to do something to prevent the further starvation of the million children in Biafra, supplementing the million and a half who have already died? Is this not an intense responsibility for Her Majesty's Government? When this hopeful proposition which I have indicated is made, may we ask Her Majesty's Government to contact the Governments of the United States of America and of Canada to co-operate in putting this project into operation?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, we have a responsibility, and so has the world, but the real responsibility, I fear, lies in Nigeria and in Biafra. I do not see any way other than the suggestions which we have put to the International Red Cross for relief to get into Biafra.
§ LORD VIVIANMy Lords, may I ask the Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, whether Her Majesty's Government would agree to Group Captain Cheshire's going out once again to Nigeria—that is, if he were able to arrange to do so—and to give him full co-operation and let him report back to Her Majesty's Government once again?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, as the noble Lord knows, many individuals have gone to Biafra, including my noble friend Lord Brockway. We have always welcomed their visits, particularly if they can bring us back news and perhaps some basis upon which action can be taken. If Group Captain Cheshire himself or others wish to go there, naturally we shall continue to welcome it.
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONMy Lords, if I may venture to say so, all the questions appear to have been slightly one-sided. Is it not now up to General Ojukwu to make some responsible contribution?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the fact is that the airfields in Biafra are closed by day and it is only during the day that the major airlift of food can occur.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I wonder whether I may ask the noble Lord the Leader of the House this question. I recognise—of course, all of us do—the importance and interest which your Lordships attach to this Question. But the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, in answer to a supplementary question from the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, made a very long statement indeed, and a carefully prepared one, which so far as I know is very much contrary to both the rules and the spirit of the Orders of the House on Questions. It seems to me a little hard that the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd. should get away with this while my noble friend Lord Ailwyn should not.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I hope I always try to act impartially in your Lordships' House. I think my noble friend Lord Shepherd was trying to be as helpful as he could. I was myself beginning to wonder just how long his reply was going to be. It is always a difficult question for Ministers. but I believe that the views and the customs of the House in regard to these matters should apply equally to Ministers as to noble Lords generally.