Concord Offer To Russia Reported

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30593, 9 November 1964, Page 13

Concord Offer To Russia Reported

(N.Z. P.A. -Reuter—Copyright) PARIS, November 8. France has asked Russia if it is willing to share in the production of the Concord supersonic jet airliner if Britain withdraws, Russian officials said in Paris yesterday, according to United Press International.

Britain was reported to have sought 1000 million dollars of its standbv credits with the I.M.F.

The sources said that Russia was asked if it was interested in producing the engines for the 1200-mile-an-hour jet The French suggestions were said to have been referred to Moscow for a re-

ply. Under the Anglo-French plan, the engines were to be produced by the Bristol Siddeley division of the British Aircraft Corporation. The Government of Mr Wilson indicated recently that

Britain would have to drop out of the Concord project because of the high costs. The officials said France apparently approached Russia with the suggestion during the last week, or after the return to Moscow of the Russian Trade Minister, Mr Nikolai Patolichev. Mr Patolichev was in Paris to sign a new expanded trade agreement with France. The Russian officials said only the development of the jet engines was mentioned in the French-Soviet talks. If Russia agreed, it was believed the French subadviation Company would develop the air frame entirely. Associated Press quoted a French Foreign Ministry official tonight as saying he knew nothing about rumours that France had requested help from the Soviet Union. The rumour apparently started at a large reception at the Soviet Embassy in Paris, celebrating the anniversary of the Russian revolution.

A source close to the Soviet Embassy, quoted by Reuter, said the Embassy had no information about any French inquiry about the possibility of Russian industry supplying engines for the Concord.