LORD BROCKWAY
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action is being taken to prevent the recruitment of British citizens as mercenaries for either side in the civil war in Nigeria.]
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I am not aware of any recruitment of this sort.
LORD BROCKWAY
My Lords, would not my noble friend agree that the fact that mercenaries go on either side for very high payment is one of the most immoral features of this immoral age? Further, is he aware that ex-R.A.F. pilots and others are now taking positions as mercenaries on both sides in the Nigerian civil conflict at salaries of £1,000 a month? The question I particularly want to ask is this. Would it not be possible to extend the Foreign Enlistment Act so that it would apply to Commonwealth countries as well as to countries outside the Commonwealth, which would prohibit this disgraceful recruitment of mercenaries in these wars?
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I share my noble friend's dislike of the thought of mercenaries' intervening in this tragic war in Nigeria. On the other hand, while I have seen rumours of Britishers or nationals of ours fighting in one capacity or another in Nigeria, I have no clear evidence that this is a fact. In regard to my noble friend's suggestion about the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870, the Department is giving thought to this. But I assure my noble friend that it is a very difficult and involved subject. I cannot offer any hope at this time that we could enlarge this Act to cover the Commonwealth.
LORD BROCKWAY
My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether, if I provide him with some evidence about British citizens having been recruited, Her Majesty's Government will give new consideration to this question?
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I should certainly be happy to receive any information on this matter.
LORD OGMORE
My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether we are in communication with the forces in Biafra so that we may avoid in future the incident that occurred recently at Fort Harcourt when, on the rumour that mercenaries were being recruited from Britain by the Federal Government, a number of important British installations were burnt down?
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that there are occasions when unfounded rumours cause injury to life and property, but there is no evidence available to me that there are British mercenaries involved on either side in Nigeria.
LORD OGMORE
I accept that, my Lords, I was asking whether we are in communication with the authorities, such as they are, in Biafra in order to try to avoid the results of any such rumours.
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, we certainly have a contact through our High Commissioner but, as the noble Lord will appreciate, this is a large country and the fighting is widespread. Therefore it is rather difficult to keep in full contact over the whole field.
LORD BROCKWAY
My Lords, I am sorry to intervene again, but is there not a difference between this disgraceful rumour, absolutely unfounded, that British troops had been sent to Biafra and the recruitment of mercenaries by both sides among British citizens?
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I would agree with my noble friend.
LORD CONESFORD
My Lords, since all the questions of the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, indicate neutrality as between the two sides in this horrible conflict, will Her Majesty's Government say whether they are also neutral in this war?
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, Nigeria is a member of the British Commonwealth, and our whole attitude t3 this question is bound by that. We are neutral to both sides, but there is clearly a recognised Government in Nigeria.
LORD CONESFORD
My Lords, I appreciate that, but I understood the implication of all these questions to be that it was wrong for British mercenaries to be on either side. I wonder whether that is the policy of Her Majesty's Government or whether, in fact, Her Majesty's Government have been helping one side only.
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, we certainly are not helping one side or the other, particularly in the field of this alleged recruiting of mercenaries
THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY
My Lords, may I ask whether perhaps a little more than the necessary amount opprobrium is in danger of being attached to the word "mercenaries"? It may be worth remembering to keep the proportion right and to prevent too much heat getting into the matter, that the Gurkhas, some of the most honoured troops in the world, are in fact mercenaries of ours.
LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I agree with the noble Earl, but I do not think that in this House the Gurkhas are regarded as mercenaries. It is clear to my mind to what my noble friend was referring.
