96. Telegram 6969 From the Embassy in Nigeria to the Department of State1 2
Subject:
- Nigeria: ICRC Flights
REF:
- STATE 129202
1. In accordance with instructions received in para 3 reftel, I called on UKHICOMER and proposed that he might wish raise subject with Gowon along lines para 1 and 2 reftel. Before replying he asked me to read the following telegram re ICRC note which he had sent yesterday evening: Begin text: This draft is even worse than I expected. It makes no concessions to the federal position and ignores everything that was discussed in Lagos. It appears in a sense to be a trap for the Federal Govt, who could scarcely accept it as it stands without detailed clarification of its ambiguities, whereas Ojukwu could no doubt accept it in principle. In any case there is little hope of persuading the Federals to make concessions unless the ICRC are able to explain to them what they have done to ascertain Ojukwuʼs official reactions to the arrangements discussed in Lagos. It would certainly be highly desirable for Naville or some senior representative to come out to Lagos for this purpose. 2. Bignami, who has been shown the draft, entirely agrees that to handle the matter in the way proposed would be a major blunder likely greatly to reduce [Page 2] chances of a reasonable compromise and intends to fly to Geneva to say so. End text.
2. HICOMER said he failed see what there was about the ICRC note which he could commend to Gowon since it ignores the agreement reached between Gowon and Naville, is not responsive to Federal conditions, “ignores Articles 22 and 23 of the Geneva Convention.” He then stated that he was not certain FMG had actually received the note and that he would not rpt not under any circumstances raise this subject with Gowon unless he received direct instructions to do so from London. He then commented that he would always be willing to push for acceptance of a “properly presented” plan for inspection outside Nigeria but that in this instance he regarded the manner of presentation as “lamentable” and commented was reminiscent of Lindtʼs fatal mistakes of presenting the FMG with a fait dʼaccomplis.
3. I then managed to determine from Enahoro in EXTAFF that the FMG had not rpt not received any note from the ICRC nor had he even heard of one. I believe most unwise see Arikpo until FMG has received note directly from ICRC. Given present mood FMG, I anticipate that our intervention in this matter may not repeat not be too kindly received by Arikpo and FMG.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 27–9 Biafra-Nigeria. Confidential; Limdis; Immediate. Repeated priority to Addis Ababa. Also repeated to London, Paris, The Hague, Geneva, and USUN.↩
- The Embassy reported that the United Kingdom High Commissioner had said that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) proposal was worse than expected. It offered the Federal Military Government (FMG) no concessions, and might end chances for a reasonable compromise.↩