USE OF GUIDED MISSILES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 7

USE OF GUIDED MISSILES

Co-operation By U.S. And Britain

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 10. Mr Duncan Sandys, the British Minister of Supply, is discussing the development of guided missiles in secret talks in Washington with high officials in the United States Defence Department, informed officials said today. He is also inspecting guided missiles establishments in the United States. Sir Steuart Mitchell, Controller of Guided Weapons in Britain, and Dr. O. H. Wansbrough-Jones, chief Scientist at the Ministry of Supply, are travelling with Mr Sandys. They were invited to exchange views on weapons, research, and development by Mr Charles Wilson, the United States Defence Secretary. There had been reports from London that Mr Sandys would put forward in the Washington talks a British plan for replacing some conventional weapons with guided missiles with atomic warheads.

Officials in Washington would not comment on the details of the talks. Both Britain and the United States are known to be experimenting with a new type of anti-aircraft guided missile which can seek out and destroy enemy planes. There was no official statement on the visit to Washington of Mr Sandys or of the fact that he was engaged in talks. His movements since he arrived in-New York earlier this month have been shrouded in secrecy. It was known only that he planned to be back in London in time for the reopening of Parliament on June 15.