§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the purpose of the mission, sponsored by his Department, to Biafra undertaken earlier this year by Group Captain L. Cheshire; and if he will give details of the report which Group Captain L. Cheshire made to him.
§ Mr. FoleyGroup Captain Cheshire's visit to the secessionist area of Nigeria was a private one, made with the encouragement but not under the sponsorship of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. His aim was to hear more about the attitude of Colonel Ojukwu and on what terms he was prepared to agree to a settlement. On his return Group Captain Cheshire reported on his visit and I discussed his impressions fully with him. It is not the Government's practice to make public the contents of such discussions.