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

90. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation¹ ²

Washington, July 18, 1969, 10:15 p.m.

P asked what happened to that Biafra thing. K said it was supposed to have been released this morning and that he approved the release.

P said it is a very important release and he wanted to be sure they understood that we are shifting from State, and writing letters to both parties. K said re Pʼs question of how letter was delivered to Biafra, it was delivered to the President of the Ivory Coast. K said we announced that letters were sent to both parties. P said tell Harlow that he ought to call Buzz and Goodell (?) telling them we are doing this. K said he would make sure that they got all of this information. P said tell Flanigan to get to the Pope and a few other people. K said we have included a letter to the Pope informing him of some of these actions. The President said if it comes up tomorrow, tell them Haile Selassie urged him to do this when he was here. P said Selassie said this is the time for American intervention. P said we have to use everything we have to get this over with and asked K if he agreed. K said these tribal hatreds run so deep. It is the same as Chinese for Southeast Asians. K said the trouble is that Nigeria canʼt win but whether they are ready to settle is a real question. P said we have to do more than State does. P said we have to stop all support of Nigerian Government. P said it wonʼt work—they canʼt win P said we have to talk cold turkey to Wilson. K said that it is important and then he would see Pompidou. P said thatʼs what I think we should do. Pompidou should step up support for Biafra. P said he would run herd on Wilson and tell Palmer to keep his mouth shut.

[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to Biafra or Nigeria.]

1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 360, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.
2. In a conversation with his Assistant for National Security Affairs, Henry Kissinger, President Nixon indicated a shift in control of Nigerian policy from the Department of State to the National Security Council. Nixon said that the United States had to use everything it had to end the war; support for the Nigerian Government should stop, British Prime Minister Wilson should cease his assistance, and French President Pompidou should increase Biafran support.