392. Telegram From the Embassy in Nigeria to the Department of State1
1294. 1. At Gowon’s behest I met with him and Adegoroye, Deputy Permsec Extaff, for hour this afternoon. Gowon said he wished assure me that he considered misunderstandings which had recently beclouded Nigerian-US relations were now removed. He was still disappointed that USG had been unable permit FMG buy arms in US but he accepted that USG had good and not unfriendly reasons for this position. He referred in this connection to personal letter which I had sent him on first anniversary of his assuming office as head of FMG and to personal letter he had recently received from his good friend, Commander Sommers [Page 668] at CINCSTRIKE. Sommer’s letter had helped him understand why USG could not permit sale of arms to FMG.
2. Gowon then told me that since FMG unable to buy aircraft in US and UK, he had had to get planes where he could. He had concluded deal for Czech aircraft. This was straight commercial purchase for cash and had no overtones of ideology or alignment. He was painfully earnest in urging that USG read nothing into this purchase beyond military necessity. He did not want this development to cast new cloud on Nigerian-US relations and asked USG to recognize his necessities as he had recognized ours. He was fully aware that Czechs would sell as readily to Ojukwu as to FMG and said that Ojukwu had been bidding for planes FMG bought.
3. Gowon pointed out that he had to provide effective air cover for his troops and for civilian population against aircraft which Ojukwu had acquired. Although these aircraft had not been very effective against FMG troops, no soldier liked to have enemy planes flying above him uncontested. Aircraft had bombed and strafed civilians. Latest incident was bombing of marketplace in Benue village. Gowon did not want fight this kind of war himself, but had warned Ojukwu that if latter persisted in such tactics, FMG would have to retaliate.
4. Gowon stressed once again that he conducting police action with limited objectives of removing Ojukwu and restoring Nigerian unity. He was not seeking to overrun or occupy Iboland or to subjugate Ibos.
5. Gowon deplored role of press and radio, in both US and Nigeria, in inflating misunderstandings. He said he was confident that recent spate of anti-Americanism in Nigerian press and radio at end and that normal friendliness between Nigerians and Americans re-emerging.
6. As evidence Ojukwu’s desperation and perfidy, Gowon showed me photostat of document which purported offer Rothschilds of France exclusive exploitation Eastern mineral resources including petroleum for ten years for six million pounds. CAS reporting this in more detail.
7. Main purpose of conversation emerged when Gowon asked me to inform Department that because of misunderstandings which had arisen between Nigeria and US, he would like to send one of his civilian commissioners as personal spokesman to deliver letter to President from Gowon and to explain orally to President FMG’s objectives in police action and FMG’s views on Nigerian-US relations. Gowon said he regarded Nigerian-US relations of such importance that he wanted ensure that President in no doubt as to FMG’s attitude toward US. He knew President very busy and he could promise spokesman would not take much of President’s time and would not “waffle.” Commissioner would come at President’s convenience but Gowon hoped could be soon.
[Page 669]8. I urge that arrangements be made for President to receive Gowon’s spokesman.2 Gowon obviously wants very much to restore US-Nigerian relations and has convinced himself that direct contact with President is essential element this process. He would feel rebuffed and deeply wounded if we should fail to respond to his sincere desire to pre-sent his government’s case to President.
9. Gowon had received UK HICOM Hunt just before my appointment. I have not had chance to check with Hunt but I assume Gowon covered much same ground with him, excepting request to receive spokesman. As Department aware, PM Wilson has already seen Chief Enahoro.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 NIGERIA. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to CINCSTRIKE/CINCMEAFSA, London, Enugu, Ibadan, and Kaduna.↩
- Telegram 021552 to Lagos, August 8, reported that a Presidential appointment would probably not be possible due to the pressures of his schedule. (Ibid.)↩