RIVALRY IN SPACE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 15

RIVALRY IN SPACE

Diefenbaker’s Urgent Plea OTTAWA, September 16. The Prime Minister of Canada (Mr John Diefenbaker) yesterday called on the major Powers to do their utmost to prevent "undesirable national rivalries” from extending to outer space.

Commenting in a statement on Russia’s success in landing the first rocket on the moon, Mr Diefenbaker said it “emphasises the urgent importance of international agreement on the peaceful use of outer space.” The Canadian Government, Mr Diefenbaker said, had repeatedly insisted that the disarmament aspect of outer space should be treated as a matter of urgency. He termed Russia’s landing of a rocket on the moon on Sunday "a major achievement in the technical progress of mankind.”

“Canada is ready to join with other nations in ensuring that the technical possibilities that are opening up should not be used for threatening or belligerent purposes, but rather should be employed through international co-operation for the benefit of mankind,” he said. The Prime Minister recalled that two years ago, after Russia first reported the successful flight of an inter-continental ballistic missile, he had urged redoubled efforts on the part of all governments engaged in disarmament negotiations. Mr Diefenbaker at the same time yesterday made public the text of a message he sent to the Soviet Premier (Mr Nikita Khrushchev! which said: “Please convey to all those whose efforts contributed to the scientific achievement of sending a rocket to the moon the congratulations of the Canadian Government and people.”