Britain Shows Secret Missiles To N.A.T.O.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28767, 12 December 1958, Page 13

Britain Shows Secret Missiles To N.A.T.O.

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS, December 11. Britain revealed yesterday details of her latest guided weapons to high N.A.T.O. civilian and military officials at a top-secret presentation which usually reliable sources described as “extraordinarily impressive.”

“Staggering” was the comment of one source who attended the opening of a three-day exhibition of British developments at the Palais de Chaillot, the headquarters of N.A.T.O.

Some sources thought that, in spite of strict security considerations, Britain could reap a rich advantage if her advances in this critical field were more widely known in the West.

Details of the big H-bomb rocket Bluestreak and of the anti-aircraft missiles Bloodhound and Thunderbird were among the data revealed tothe N.A.T.O. officials, according to the “Daily Mail.” ,: Secrets of weapons still in the design stage were also given away.

Leaders of the three- services in Britain were shocked by the disclosures, but had been over-ruled by the Cabinet, the newspaper said.

The military chiefs of N.A.T.O. are meeting today for eight days of talks on the Western Alliance’s defence and political problems. General Lauris Norstad, of the United States, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, is attending. Under the chairmanship of General Bjarneoen, of Norway, the military leaders will prepare today for the two-day meeting of the N.A.T.O. council opening in Paris next Tuesday.