Office of the Historian

46. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1

Washington, May 24, 1966, 8:29 p.m.

7034. Ref: Deptel 6208, April 20 repeated Bonn 2771, Brussels 1285, Canberra 875, Paris 5349, Rome 2205, The Hague 705. Deptel 6902 to London.2

Interdepartmental working group of committee established pursuant to Space Council decision to review possibilities of expanded international cooperation in space held initial meeting on May 19 on subject of cooperation in launcher technology.3 Discussion centered on cooperation with ELDO. It was agreed that continuation of ELDO is desirable from U.S. point of view and that a U.S. position would be prepared providing for cooperation with ELDO in the event ELDO members desire such cooperation. U.S. cooperation would be subject to government to government agreement that ELDO members would honor their Intelsat commitments, i.e., adherence to a single global commercial satellite system, and that launcher technology would not be used for advancement of national missile launching capability or be provided to non-ELDO nations. NASA currently developing for Government review list of items of cooperation U.S. would be willing to undertake in assisting ELDO projects.

Department is seeking to establish fully cleared government position on urgent basis.

In its discretion Embassy may advise Foreign Office and other appropriate officials of evolving consensus within U.S. Government but with cautionary note that fully cleared U.S. Government position not yet established.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Central Files, 1964–66, SP 11 ELDO. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Pollack and cleared by Morris (OTM), Robert L. Bruce (S/S), Barber, Frutkin (NASA), Frank E. Loy (E/TT), Sidney N. Graybeal (ACDA), and Spurgeon Keeny (White House). Cleared by U. Alexis Johnson. Repeated to Bonn, Brussels, Canberra, Paris, Rome, and The Hague.↩
  2. Telegram 6208 is dated April 20. (Ibid.) Telegram 6902 was not found.↩
  3. Details of the meeting are in the summary minutes, May 19. (Department of State, SCI Files: Lot 68 D 383, SP 1 NASC)↩