Russia Proposes World Space Pact

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30109, 18 April 1963, Page 9

Russia Proposes World Space Pact

(NZJ’.A -Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, April 16.

The Soviet Union proposed today that all States subscribe to an international declaration that would guarantee aid for astronauts in an emergency.

The move was made on the heels of reports that the next United Stales manned space shot would take Major Gordon Cooper over China.

The chief Soviet delegate. Mr Nikolai Fedorenko, toid reporters that Russia was tabling a draft declaration for the legal sub-committee of the United Nations Outer Space Committee, which began work today. It would also call for the return of space vehicles which came down in countries other than those of origin.

He said that the Soviet and United States delegations had begun talks on the legal aspects of space exploration. The Soviet-sponsored declaration contained 11 principal points, including the primary one that space exploration should be conducted in the interests of all mankind. Other points included: Outer space and celestial bodies should be open to all states, and sovereignty over these bodies could not be acquired by means

of use or occupation, or in any other -way. All states had equal rights to explore and use outer

space. Sovereign rights of states over the objects launched by them should be retained by them. The use of outer space for war propaganda and fomenting national hatred was inadmissible. Co-operation and mutual assistance should be the

duty of all states. Use of artificial satellites for the collection of intelligence information was incompatible with the objectives of mankind in the conquest of outer space.

Astronauts should be considered to be “envoys of mankind in outer space.” All possible assistance should be given to them and their ships which might have to make emergency landings. The launching state should bear responsibility for damage that might be inflicted on another state by its space probes. Mr Fedorenko said the Soviet Union proposed that all states adhere to the declaration