Enclosed is the record of a recent conversation between Ambassador Ahoua
of the Ivory Coast and David Rockefeller on the general subject of
Biafra. In order to protect the source and the sensitive information
contained in the memorandum, I would appreciate your restricting it to
your immediate office.
Enclosure
Conversation with Ambassador Ahoua of the Ivory Coast
undated
Mr. Ahoua came to see me at the request of President Houphouet-Boigny
whom he saw a few days ago in Geneva. He wanted to bring me up to
date on several points he had discussed with me at a previous
meeting a few weeks ago.
(1) President Houphouet-Boigny believes that the Biafran problem is
becoming increasingly important as the Soviet influence in Nigeria
is gaining ascendancy over the British influence. Houphouet-Boigny
believes that the present Nigerian regime no longer has full control
of the government and that aid to Biafra is important in stopping
the spread of Soviet influence in Nigeria.
(2) Houphouet-Boigny says the Soviet strategy in West Africa is to
work with the UAR on the Moslem populations of Northern Nigeria and
the other Saharan states which are Moslem. Arabic rather than
English is now being taught in many of the schools in the northern
region.
(3) According to Houphouet-Boigny, Prime Minister Wilson sent a confidential emissary
to see him to discuss and get suggestions as to how Britain could
disengage from her firm commitment to Nigeria since Britain also is
now beginning to fear the rise of Soviet influence.
(4) Houphouet-Boigny has been having secret conversations with the
governments of South Africa and Rhodesia in an effort to persuade
them to support Biafra. The South African Government has agreed to
such support and is providing a credit of $2,000,000 for supplies
and food for the Biafrans. This aid will not be revealed officially
and will not go through International Red Cross sources. The South
African Government justification is based on concern of the Sovietsʼ
growing influence in Nigeria and their feeling that it would be just
as well for the Biafrans to remain independent of this
influence.
(5) The relations of the Ivory Coast Government and the South African
Government are becoming increasingly cordial. Their
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discussions have related
particularly to the Biafran question but are also related to
possible reopening of diplomatic relations between the two
countries. At present, Houphouet-Boigny proposes to defer such
recognition till after November when his Congress will meet and when
he will have a chance to prepare the country for such a move. It is
his belief that South Africa is rethinking their international
relations more along political lines and less along racial lines. He
believes that this could have an impact on their attitude to
apartheid over a period of time.
(6) President Houphouet-Boigny feels that Assistant Secretary
Palmer is so committed
in his attitude toward the Nigerian Government that he is taking a
rather rigid position on the question of Biafra. He feels that a new
look on the whole question of Biafra and Nigeria is badly needed and
that a change in the department would be helpful.
(7) President Houphouet-Boigny is now less sanguine about other
African nations recognizing the South African Government promptly
than he was earlier. This is due partly to the fact that most of the
leaders do not have too strong a position in their countries and
some of them are Marxist oriented. He believes, however, that there
will be a gradual evolution in this direction. He specially
indicated that President Zinsou lacks authority in Dahomey, one
reason being that a large part of his population is Uruba, which is
tied in with the northern region of Nigeria.
(8) The other countries which are presently helping Biafra are
France, Gabon, Tanzania, Zambia and Israel. Houphouet-Boigny
believes that Tunisia will be recognizing Biafra shortly.
(9) Dr. Dike of Biafra, who saw
me at the request of President Houphouet-Boigny a few weeks ago,
will be returning to the United States in a week or two with certain
concrete proposals.