Selassie Promises Abram African Committee Will Seek to End Suffering in Nigeria

Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia today promised American civil rights and religious leaders that the Organization of African Unity consultative committee on Nigeria, which he chairs, “will continue to do its utmost in finding ways and means of alleviating the present suffering in Nigeria.” The Emperor’s message was contained in a cable addressed to Morris B. Abram, president of the American Jewish Committee and ad hoc chairman of the American .Committee for Biafran Relief. The committee, comprised of major American Jewish and non-Jewish civic, religious and relief organizations, had urged the Emperor to use his good offices to work out an agreement for speeding food and medical supplies to the civilian population of Biafra, the ravaged breakaway eastern province of Nigeria. Biafran and Nigerian delegates are currently meeting in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.