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DIORI 3/31
NIGHT LD DIORI

LONDON (UPI) — NIGER PRESIDENT HAMANI DIORI TONIGHT DISCUSSED POSSIBILITIES OF EARLY MEDIATION IN THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR WITH BRITISH FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY MICHAEL STEWART .

THE NIGER PRESIDENT , WHO ARRIVED WITH HIS WIFE EARLIER TODAY ON A FIVE-DAY OFFICIAL VISITE AS GUEST OF THE BRITISHE GOUVERNEMENT , HAD A 45 MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH STEWART AT HIS OFFICE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS .

BRITICH OFFICIAL SOURCES DESCRIBED THE MEETING AS "VERY FRIENDY"

BESIDES THE NIGERIAN PROBLEM THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THE GENERAL QUESTION OF SECCESSION PROBLEMS IN AFRICA , RELATIONS BETWEEN NIGER AND BRITAIN ,PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND AID AND EDUCATION .

BOTH STEWART AND DIORI BEGAN THEIR WORKING LIVES AS TEACHRS AND PURSUED THIS PROFESSION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BERIRE ENTERING POLITICS .

Officials Said this common experience in their lives produced an immediate rapport between the two men and early established a sympathetic and friendly relationship .

LATER THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND MRS. STEWART WERE HOSTS TO THE NIGER PRESIDENT AND MADAME DIORI AT A THEATER AND SUPPER PARTY .

THE NIGER GUESTS SAW A PERFORMANCE OF THE HADRIAN VII , A HISTORICAL PLAY , AT THE HAYMARKET THEATER AND AFTERWARDS DINED AT A PRIVATE ROOM IN THE SAVOY HOTEL.

INFORMED SOURCES SAID IN THE INITIAL TALKS STEWART INFORMED PRESIDENT DIORI OF THE LATEST REPORTS RECEIVED FROM PRIME MINISTER HAROLD WILSON OF HIS TALKS IN LAGOS WITH THE NIGERIAN MILITARY LEADERS .

WILSON ARRIVED TONIGHT IN ADDIS ABABA FOR TALKS TUESDAY WITH ETHIOPIAN EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE WHO HEADS THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON NIGERIA OF THE OAU (ORGANISATION FOR AFRICAN UNITY ) .

PRESIDENT DIORY IS ONE OF SIX FRENCH-SPEAKING AFRICAN LEADERS ON THAT COMMITTEE AND HIS INTERETS IN WILSON’S EXPLORATORY TALKS ON THE POSSIBILITY OF EARLY MEDIATION ARE ACUTE.
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