Not Providing E.L.D.O. Site

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 15

Not Providing E.L.D.O. Site

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

PARIS, July 8.

Australia will not provide an equatorial launch site for the European Launcher Development Organisation (E.L.D.0.).

After a hard fight at the E.L.D.O. conference in Paris yesterday, the Australian delegation, led by the Minister of Supply, Senator Denham Henty, conceded to France’s claim to build the site in French Guiana.

The Belgian Prime Minister

(Mr Paul Vanden Boeynants) and others spoke highly of the way Australia had put its case and of Australian help to E.L.D.O. in the past. Research and development firing will continue at Woomera. Ministers of the member states—Britain, France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia—will take a final decision on the launching site today as part of a package deal in which Britain agrees to remain in the organisation with a reduced financial commitment. The E.L.D.O. secretariat agreed that French Guiana offered a wider arc of fire compared with Darwin being closer to the Equator by five degrees, conference sources said. E.L.D.O.’s Secretary-Gene-ral, Mr Renzo Carrobio, of Italy, told reporters “E.L.D.O.’s future now seems assured.”

Three-Nation Talks.—The leaders of India, Jugoslavia and the United Arab Republic will meet in New Delhi on October 21 for a five-day summit conference. —New Delhi, July 8.