U.K. MAY LEAVE E.L.D.O. SOON

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 17

U.K. MAY LEAVE E.L.D.O. SOON

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

LONDON, June 3.

Britain might leave the European Launcher Development Organisation at a meeting in Paris on June 9, “The Times” reported today.

The newspaper said: “It is likely that the Government will tell its partners that Britain can no longer carry the burden of contributing 40 per cent of the costs. “If Britain does leave E.L.D.O. it could end the Blue Streak rocket programme and write off more than £lOO million spent on military and civil developments.

The Woomera rocket range in South Australia has been the site of E.L.D.O.’s development of the Blue Streak to launch satellites. “The Times” said Britain had contributed the largest share towards E.L.D.O.’s costs and had spent proportionately less than other countries on her own national space effort.

The Government, in the face of pressure from its economic and financial advisers, might have hardened for a showdown at the June meeting.

“If Britain does leave E.L.D.O. it seems unlikely that the remaining countries could afford to continue development, although they could take over the Blue Streak,” the newspaper said. "The only other choice is complete dependence on America, with European nations buying time on United States satellites. “The National Industrial Space Committee thinks such action would be politically unwise for security reasons and would place the communications and electronics industries in pawn.”