GB 0102 MCF/CPN - Committee for Peace in Nigeria

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0102 MCF/CPN

Title

Committee for Peace in Nigeria

Date(s)

  • Created 1967-1969 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

5 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Committee for Peace in Nigeria

Biographical history

The Committee for Peace in Nigeria (CPN) was an all-party, representative committee established as a result of concern raised by the conflict between Biafra and Nigeria, in the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). The Committee acted as an independent body, but was closely associated with the work of the Movement for Colonial Freedom (MCF). Lord Fenner Brockway chaired both the MCF and the CPN. Members of the CPN included leading figures from all three political parties, representatives from the missionary societies (Anglican, Catholic and Free Church) working in Nigeria, former members of the Colonial Service in Nigeria including two ex-Governors General, business representatives and other notable figures. The CPN also included Africans from both the Federal and the Biafran sides of the conflict.

The Committee was active from 1968, campaigning for the intervention of the British Government and international governments in the Nigerian conflict. Representatives of the CPN met with both sides of the conflict and representatives from the British Commonwealth Office, and in 1968 sent an all-party deputation to the British Prime Minister. A result of the deputation was that the Rt. Hon. James Griffiths MP and Lord Brockway met with Colonel Ojukwu of Biafra (3-12 December 1968) and General Gowon of the Nigerian Federal Government (18-22 December 1968) to put forward their practical proposals for a ceasefire.

The CPN forwarded a set of practical proposals around which a ceasefire should be based. These included the presence of an international peace-keeping force; the cessation of the supply of arms by the British Government to either side in the conflict; that the government should take the initiative in securing the agreement of other countries to stop supplying arms; the demilitarisation of routes for relief supplies and an international relief effort to be planned on a government and UN level, for those areas suffering from starvation.

Archival history

GB 0102 MCF/CPN Created 1967-1969 Sub-fonds of LIBERATION (MOVEMENT FOR COLONIAL FREEDOM) 5 boxes Committee for Peace in Nigeria
The Committee for Peace in Nigeria (CPN) was an all-party, representative committee established as a result of concern raised by the conflict between Biafra and Nigeria, in the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). The Committee acted as an independent body, but was closely associated with the work of the Movement for Colonial Freedom (MCF). Lord Fenner Brockway chaired both the MCF and the CPN. Members of the CPN included leading figures from all three political parties, representatives from the missionary societies (Anglican, Catholic and Free Church) working in Nigeria, former members of the Colonial Service in Nigeria including two ex-Governors General, business representatives and other notable figures. The CPN also included Africans from both the Federal and the Biafran sides of the conflict.

The Committee was active from 1968, campaigning for the intervention of the British Government and international governments in the Nigerian conflict. Representatives of the CPN met with both sides of the conflict and representatives from the British Commonwealth Office, and in 1968 sent an all-party deputation to the British Prime Minister. A result of the deputation was that the Rt. Hon. James Griffiths MP and Lord Brockway met with Colonel Ojukwu of Biafra (3-12 December 1968) and General Gowon of the Nigerian Federal Government (18-22 December 1968) to put forward their practical proposals for a ceasefire.

The CPN forwarded a set of practical proposals around which a ceasefire should be based. These included the presence of an international peace-keeping force; the cessation of the supply of arms by the British Government to either side in the conflict; that the government should take the initiative in securing the agreement of other countries to stop supplying arms; the demilitarisation of routes for relief supplies and an international relief effort to be planned on a government and UN level, for those areas suffering from starvation.

Deposited on permanent loan in 1984 as part of the archives of the Movement for Colonial Freedom.

Records, 1967-1969, of the Committee for Peace in Nigeria, including records of membership; minutes; correspondence, including that between Lord Brockway and the Prime Minister, and that conducted with Colonel Ojukwu and General Gowon; reports and statements on official visits; press releases; publications, pamphlets and publicity material.

The material has been arranged in broadly chronological order.

Unrestricted.

Copyright held by Liberation, 9 Arkwright Road, Hampstead, London NW3 6AB.
English

Unpublished handlist to the archive of Liberation (formerly the Movement for Colonial Freedom).

The School of Oriental and African Studies also holds papers relating to the Nigerian Civil War (Ref: MS 321463) and Biafra (Ref: MS 380252).

23 March 2000 Africa Associations Biafra Brockway , Archibald Fenner , 1888-1988 , Baron Brockway , politician x Brockway , Baron Civil war Committee for Peace in Nigeria Foreign policy Foreign relations Gowon , Yakubu , b 1934 , Nigerian soldier and Head of State Hunger Internal politics International relations Liberation x Movement for Colonial Freedom Malnutrition Nigeria Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) Ojukwu , Chukwuemeka Odumegwa , b 1933 , Nigerian General and secessionist Organizations Pacifism Peace Peacemaking Political behaviour Political doctrines Political leadership Political movements Political participation Political sociology Politicians Social problems West Africa Wilson , James Harold , 1916-1995 , Baron Wilson of Rievaulx , statesman x Wilson , Harold x Wilson of Rievaulx , Baron Nutrition disorders Nutritional and metabolic diseases Pathology Diseases

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited on permanent loan in 1984 as part of the archives of the Movement for Colonial Freedom.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records, 1967-1969, of the Committee for Peace in Nigeria, including records of membership; minutes; correspondence, including that between Lord Brockway and the Prime Minister, and that conducted with Colonel Ojukwu and General Gowon; reports and statements on official visits; press releases; publications, pamphlets and publicity material.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The material has been arranged in broadly chronological order.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright held by Liberation, 9 Arkwright Road, Hampstead, London NW3 6AB.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The School of Oriental and African Studies also holds papers relating to the Nigerian Civil War (Ref: MS 321463) and Biafra (Ref: MS 380252).

Finding aids

Unpublished handlist to the archive of Liberation (formerly the Movement for Colonial Freedom).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Publication note

Notes area

Note

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

School of Oriental and African Studies

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area