§ 74. Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new initiatives he now proposes to take to seek a way to end the Nigeria-Biafra war; and if he will visit both sides and make an appeal.
§ Mr. LuardI would refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) on 13th October. There is at present intense diplomatic activity on the part of African States themselves, directed to promoting discussions between the parties to the conflict. Both sides know of our readiness to help but it would be inappropriate to risk crossing wires at this moment by my right hon. Friend taking the sort of initiative contemplated in the hon. Member's Question. —[Col. 13, Vol. 788.]
§ 75. Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what up-to-date information he has on the present amount of food shipments into Biafra.
§ Mr. LuardAccordingly to the most recent public statements which I have seen from the organisations concerned, the Joint Church Aid bodies are transporting about 165 tons of medical and food supplies into the area still under rebel control each night, and the French Red Cross are reported to be transporting an average of about eight tons of relief supplies per night.