asked the Minister for External Affairs the outcome of his recent discussions concerning the position in Nigeria and Biafra; whether it is proposed to provide further relief for the people there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
58.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Nigerian Biafran Conflict.
57.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether the consultations on the Nigerian Biafra war, to which he referred in his statement to the Dáil on 8th July have yet taken place, if so, with what result; and what action he now proposes to take in the interest of expediting relief and promoting peace in the area.
59.
asked the Minister for External Affairs what steps he proposes to take following the consultations he has held with interested parties, to secure the free flow of relief supplies to Biafra and to bring about a cease-fire between Nigeria and Biafra.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 58 and 59 together.
I am continuing these discussions.
I have examined very carefully the factors involved in the search for peace and in expediting relief and I regret to have to inform the Dáil that the prospects so far give little cause for hope.
Does the Minister propose to have any direct discussions with the governments concerned?
I am continuing the discussions. I expect to have our ambassador from Lagos in Dublin next week to discuss with him. In the meantime, I can tell the Dáil that the Government have sanctioned 25,000 dollars for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund for Nigeria/Biafra.
Would the Minister state whether the Government are contributing to the present emergency relief operations of Joint Church Aid and Caritas Internationalis?
Our policy has been to channel relief through the Red Cross. I think I already told the Dáil the amount. As well as that, we have a pledge to contribute £25,000 where necessary for Red Cross medical teams for either side in Nigeria. There is a team of six Irish Red Cross medical personnel at present working in Aba-kaliki and two more doctors are joining this team next month. Our policy is to channel relief through the Irish Red Cross Society.
Would the Minister agree that the reason the Government are channelling relief exclusively through the Red Cross, and not contributing to the emergency relief operations of Joint Church Aid—— which are at present more effective— is that the British Government does not approve of the missionary relief activities in Biafra at present?
I would not agree with this at all. The International Red Cross is the internationally accepted organisation for relief. Our policy from the very beginning has been to channel aid through the Red Cross. This policy was decided on by our Government without any regard to what other Governments think.
Can the Minister say if there is any truth in the opinion that the Red Cross have not, in fact, been accepted by the Nigerian Government and are not an accepted channel and that other channels, therefore, may have to be used? Would the Minister agree that if the present situation of Red Cross supplies not getting through persists in the period ahead when the Dáil is in recess, he will review the present policy in this regard?
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Naville, was in Lagos and had talks with Chief Enaharo and General Gowon. The Deputy is probably aware of the communiqué which was issued afterwards. I believe that technical talks between the Red Cross and the Nigerian authorities on the takeover of relief — co-ordination by the rehabilitation commission — were held on 14th July and adjourned for ten days apparently to allow the Red Cross to produce certain documents. The negotiations are still alive between the Red Cross and the Nigerian authorities.
Has the relief we are sending through the Red Cross reached its destination?
I understand that not all of the money we have contributed as a Government is yet used up but the Red Cross have distributed much of the aid which we subscribed.
This extra relief to UNICEF?
It is sanctioned just now — this 25,000 dollars direct relief for activity by the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund in Nigeria-Biafra.
Direct to UNICEF?
Yes.
Would the Minister accept that any assistance that goes through the Red Cross must be channelled into the country concerned via the Nigerian Government? As such, does he not accept that that is undesirable from the Biafran point of view in that they are not prepared to accept any food that goes through the official Nigerian Government for fear of its being poisoned on the way into Biafra?
I am aware of the apparently irreconcilable position taken by the Nigerian Government and by the spokesmen for Biafra on this question. Negotiations are taking place in an attempt to find some way to bring relief and, as well as that, there is activity in an attempt to find a basis for negotiation. The public statements would appear to be irreconcilable on this question of negotiation also. I do not know what I can say to the Deputy's question but the International Committee of the Red Cross are engaging in an attempt to make sure that relief goes through.
Has the Minister given any consideration to a personal visit by himself to the area to discuss the position on the spot or to examine it on the spot? Has the Minister given any consideration to doing this in the months ahead?
I have considered everything possible that we could usefully do as a country. I have met many people. I had consultations with the Nigerian Chargé d'Affaires in Dublin, the chairman of Gorta, Father Doheny of Kimmage, Fr. Doheny of Biafra and the Vicar General of Enugu. I consulted with the chairman and secretary of the Irish Red Cross, Mr. J. O'Loughlin Kennedy and Fr. Raymond Kennedy of Africa Concern, the Provincial of African Mission Fathers (SMA) Cork, the Superior General of St. Patrick's Mission Society (Kiltegan), Mr. Kogbara — Col. Ojukwu's representative in London — and Mr. Modu. I also consulted with representatives of the Irish Movement for Peace in Nigeria and Biafra and the Secretary of the Church Mission Society and yesterday I met a bishop from Nigeria. I spoke to the Foreign Minister of Belgium, Mr. Harmel, Mr. Luns of the Netherlands and Mr. Stewart of Great Britain. All the time I had two topics. One was sounding out the possibility of promoting peace and the other was the expediting of relief supplies but I must say that at this stage the prospects do not hold out any hope.
Did the Minister receive any encouragement from any of these sources that a personal visit by himself would help?
In all these discussions I reminded people that I was available to do anything, meet anyone that would help and I am satisfied from my discussions that a personal visit by me would not serve any useful purpose.
Arising from the Minister's reply and his assurance that he wishes to do everything possible to help which we accept, is the Minister aware that there are relief supplies available in Libreville, Gabon, which can be brought in under the auspices of Africa Concern if finance can only be made available in order to save lives?
I shall examine that. If the question is money alone then the money would not stop this Government from helping. I am not certain that money alone is the question.
I believe it is.