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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969–1972
  4. Document 129

129. Briefing Memorandum From Roger Morris of the National Security Council Staff to the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1 2

Washington, October 15, 1969
[Page 1]

SUBJECT:

  • Meeting with Foreign Minister Arikpo of Nigeria Today, 4:00 pm

Hereʼs where we stand on Nigeria/Biafra, including our own initiatives:

—Richardson “decided” on Saturday to proceed with the relief initiatives the President previously instructed. Weʼll approach the Biafrans with (a) a Presidential statement to accommodate their position on inviolability of the Red Cross daylight flights; (b) the Canadian neutral observers; and (c) some communications help. The object is to lock in the Feds on their pledge not to violate the airlift, and thus meet Biafran objections to daylight flights.

—Richardson also “decided” to get moving on peace probing. But he recognizes Sec. Rogers (like AF) is against a political initiative, and E.R. is undertaking to bring the Secretary around this week. (Incidentally, E.R. was most cordial to me).

—Richardson got from Arikpo yesterday a renewed assurance that the Feds would not violate a daylight Red Cross airlift. He told Arikpo about our relief initiative only in vague terms—that we were “getting in touch with the Biafrans to clarify their position on daylight flights”.

—Arikpo put out a feeler with me Sunday on the US acting as a go-between among the French and the Feds on ending the war. (My memcon, underlined, is attached.) This was an important overture from the Feds. Arikpo raised it again with Richardson, but was told we simply wouldnʼt get in the middle.

Talking Points

I recommend you let Arikpo do most of the talking. Ask him:

1. Are the Federals prepared to negotiate seriously? What are they ready to do, and what do they want from Biafra, to get productive talks started?

2. The President is personally concerned that the fighting and suffering end as soon as possible. How can the US actively help? (If he mentions our going to the French, we should leave the door open. [Page 2] If asked about our relief moves:)

3. We are in contact with the Biafrans to nail down the obstacles to daylight flights. Weʼre still hopeful the airlift can go.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NCS Files, Box 742, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria, Vol. I. Secret. Morris attached the memorandum of his conversation with Arikpo and Iyalla on October 12 (Document 128).↩
  2. Morris briefed Kissinger on Nigeria/Biafra for his meeting that afternoon with Federal Commissioner for External Affairs Arikpo and provided talking points. Morris noted that Under Secretary of State Richardson had “decided” to proceed with the relief initiative the President previously instructed and had also “decided” to get moving on peace probing.↩