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Telegram 6116 From the Embassy in Nigeria to the Department of State, July 7, 1969, 1230Z
Abstract
July 7, 1969, 1230Z
Ambassador Mathews stated that a new, even more serious crisis in U.S.-Nigerian relations was possible arising from the fact that the United States and the Federal Military Government (FMG) faced a similar problem--how to strike a balance between internal pressures and external political realities. In the FMG's case, restrictions on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and relief organizations were necessary to alleviate internal dissent. According to Mathews, the United States balance had for some time been titled toward internal pressure. Thus domestic sympathy for Ibos had led the United States to waver from its usual post-World War II stance of giving firm political support to friendly governments against internal dissidents.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 27-9 Biafra-Nigeria. Secret; EXDIS; Immediate.
Ambassador Mathews stated that a new, even more serious crisis in U.S.-Nigerian relations was possible arising from the fact that the United States and the Federal Military Government (FMG) faced a similar problem--how to strike a balance between internal pressures and external political realities. In the FMG's case, restrictions on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and relief organizations were necessary to alleviate internal dissent. According to Mathews, the United States balance had for some time been titled toward internal pressure. Thus domestic sympathy for Ibos had led the United States to waver from its usual post-World War II stance of giving firm political support to friendly governments against internal dissidents.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 27-9 Biafra-Nigeria. Secret; EXDIS; Immediate.
Biafran War Database.
Editor: Azuka Nzegwu.
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