73. Telegram 5164 From the Embassy in Nigeria to the Department of State1 2

Subject:

  • FMG Statement on Downed Relief Aircraft

Ref:

  • Lagos 5163

1. FMG late June 7 issued statement entitled “Concerning United States and Swedish Governments Statements on the Shooting Down of the Aircraft on Illegal Flights to Rebel-held Territory”

2. Begin text:

The attention of the Federal Military Government has been drawn to the statements issued by the United States and Swedish Governments purporting to deplore attack on aircraft engaged in illegal traffic to pockets of territory held by forces in armed rebellion against the government.

[Page 2]

The Federal Military Government deplores both statements, which clearly reveal the double standards and hypocrisy of both foreign governments over the Nigerian crisis and the clandestine support which the so-called humanitarian organizations give to sustain the rebellion and weaken Nigeria.

Over the last few days, Ojukwu has comtemptuously treated the world to a macabre display: first, murdering eleven foreign oil technicians in cold blood and, then, announcing his decision to murder eighteen others.

No European government nor the United States Government felt moved enough to deplore such crimes: rather, they preferred to engage in regrettable appeasement and dealings.

Nationals of Sweden acquired military aircraft and bombed and strafed airports, power stations and other civil installations, while Ojukwu boasted that he would attack Nigerian shipping and industry. Some of the aircraft were reported to bear Red Cross markings.

The United States Government did not condemn such violations by a European country of normal civilized code of international conduct, especially as Count von Rosen and his Swedes first came to Nigeria on so-called Red Cross and other humanitarian missions.

It is quite clear that Ojukwu’s source of money, his supplies for his soldiers, his regular contact with foreign interests hostile to the continued existence of Nigeria as one country are all organized under the aegis of so-called relief operations.

The Federal Military Government, therefore, warns all foreign governments to respect Nigeriaʼs sovereignty over its entire territory, to desist from organizing or conniving at flights operated without the express and specific approval of the Federal Military Government and any further violation of Nigerian air space.

End text

Olson
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–9 Biafra-Nigeria. Unclassified; Immediate. Repeated priority to Lome. Also repeated to Cotonou, Geneva, The Hague, Stockholm, Libreville, Yaounde, and London.
  2. The Embassy transmitted a Federal Military Government (FMG) statement in which that government stated that the press releases of the U.S. and Swedish Governments were hypocritical. The FMG charged that Swedish nationals had bombed and strafed civil installations as mercenaries of Biafra, and the United States did not condemn it.