§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further discussion he has had with Lord Hunt; and what further proposals he has to relieve suffering in Nigeria and Biafra.
§ Mr. WhitlockWe have continued to maintain close contact with Lord Hunt about the working out of the £250,000 programme for relief in Nigeria on which 41W he advised Her Majesty's Government. We have also kept in close touch with the Federal Government and with the International Red Cross about the possibilities of extending international relief operations. These were discussed by my noble friend Lord Shepherd during his recent visits both to Lagos and to Geneva, where the International Committee of the Red Cross has its headquarters.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been given to the United Kingdom representative in the United Nations regarding Nigeria and Biafra.
§ Mr. WhitlockMy noble friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, resident in New York, is fully informed of developments in Nigeria. Lord Caradon is in regular touch with the United Nations Secretary-General, whose initiative in appointing a special representative for humanitarian work in Nigeria, in offering the facilities of the appropriate U.N. Specialised Agencies in relief work under the co-ordination of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and in accepting an invitation to appoint an international observer, is warmly welcomed by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further steps have now been taken, through the United Nations and other means, to assist in bringing to an end the fighting in Nigeria, and to allow free access for urgent supplies to reach the suffering people there.
§ Mr. WhitlockHer Majesty's Government have continued to take every opportunity to work for an early end to the fighting. They have supported the efforts of the International Red Cross to organise relief on both sides of the fighting lines. They accepted the Federal Government's invitation to appoint a member of the international observer team whose purpose is to verify the proper treatment of civilians. When it appeared at one stage that there might be a move amongst Ibo leaders which could have led to realistic negotiations my noble friend Lord Shepherd flew to Lagos to tell General Gowon of these developments and to see whether there was any way in42W which Her Majesty's Government could assist the Nigerian Government to ease the transition from war to peace.