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1. NIGERIA: ARMS SUPPLIES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (Previous Reference: OPD(67) 29th Meeting, Iten 2)
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The Committee had before than a memorandum by the Commonwealth Secretary (OPD (67) 86) covering a minute by the Minister of State for
Commonwealth Affairs to the Prime Minister on the supply of arms to the Federal Military Government of Nigeria (FMG).
THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, said that since fighting began in
Nigeria, we had supplied the FMG with reasonable quantities of
ammunition for weapons provided by us and limited quantities of the
smaller weapons of which we had been traditional suppliers. Our ain
had been to reduce the loss of human life and to protect our own
nationals and business interests in Eastern Nigeria. The situation
had now changed. The FMC seemed reasonably assured of winning in
the end. The chances of a negotiated settlement had declined.
The FMG were better disposed to us than the authorities in the Eastern
Region who were now implacably hostile. British interests would therefore now be served by a quick FMG victory. Port Harcourt was
the key to the outcome of the war and its capture in reasonable order
would be an important step towards the restoration of oil supplies,
although it would not be sufficient by itself for the resumption of
supplies since some of the oil pipelines would still be in Biafran
hands. In these circumstances he proposed that we should relax our policy on arms supplies to allow the FMG to buy from us items which would increase their ability to achieve a quicker victory, especially
at Port Harcourt. He did not propose that we should allow the export
of aircraft or weapons of mass destruction, but had in mind such items
as three inch mortars and sterling sub-machine guns.
In discussion there was general agreement with the Commonwealth
Secretary's proposals, although doubt was expressed whether the
acquisition of the weapons which it was now proposed to supply would,
in fact, be sufficient to enable the FMG to win a quick victory.
The Committee
Approved OPD(67) 86.
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