Words and deeds
In the emergency debate on the supply of arms to Nigeria on 12 June, the Foreign Secretary said that 'the words and actions of General Gowon to which I draw the atten- tion of the House are these. He has made it clear that he does not desire to invade the Biafran heartlands and that he will try [sic] to avoid that step. The Federal government are not, as it were, poised for an immediate advance upon and destruction of the Ibo people.' It was to a large extent on the basis of this belief that Mr Stewart justified the continuing supply of British arms to Nigeria. Last week Chief Enaharo, the Federal government spokesman, declared : 'I think that duty dictates at the moment that Federal forces should open up supply routes to the Ibo heartland by military means,' and close observers (who note that the Federal forces have shown no interest whatever in 'supplying' the starving Ibos in parts of Biafra already occupied by Lagos) now be- lieve that a full-scale invasion is planned. The least the British government can do is to issue a clear warning, without further delay, that in the event of any such invasion the supply of arms and aid to Nigeria would be cut off forthwith.
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