Queen Asked To Intercede

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31725, 8 July 1968, Page 11

Queen Asked To Intercede

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, July 7. The Queen has been asked to intercede with the Nigerian Government to stop its threat to shoot down mercy aircraft carrying unauthorised relief supplies to breakaway Biafra.

A London-based organisation calling itself the Save Biafra Group sent a telegram to the Queen pleading that Nigeria allow in the aircraft “to help alleviate the appalling distress forced upon innocent people.” At the same time, the British Government was under pressure to take action on the Nigerian Government's announcement that it would shoot down any aircraft attempting to carry supplies into rebel territory without authorisation beforehand.

Such flights would be regarded as gross violation of Nigerian air space, it said. The Save Biafra Group says it has enough food and medical supplies to fill three aircraft, but needs pilots to fly into Biafran-held territory by day. One of the organisers, Miss Susan Garth, said: "Even the Red Cross cannot fly in by day, they tell us. Their aircraft have to go in at night.” A special mission, led by Lord Hunt, to find the best way to provide relief ip Nigeria left London on Friday for Lagos. Lord Hunt refused comment

The relief organisation Oxfam asked Mr Wilson to intervene after it announced that plans for an airlift to Biafra of Red Cross supplies had been dropped for the present Oxfam had planned to use a Hercules aircraft at present in Canada. But in view of Nigeria’s refusal to allow the mercy flights the option had been lost, it said.

Mr Leslie Kirkley, the director of Oxfam, said about

1000 tons of food and medical supplies were waiting to be airlifted into Biafra from Fernando Po, a Spanish island 100 miles south-east of Port Harcourt. There would be 3000 tons ready by the end of July.