Article On Omega

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31985, 12 May 1969, Page 12

Article On Omega

The editor of the “Listener” (Mr Alexander MacLeod) has written to the editor of “The Presa” to correct a reference to a leading article in the “Listener” made in a statement by Dr D. R. Hutton, Mr G. L. Austin and Mr P. A. G. Howell. Their statement, printed in “The Press” on Friday, was in reply to Mr Nicholas Turner’s criticisms of their earlier statements on Omega. “They mention my reference in a ‘Listener’ editorial to an ‘independent military analysis’ by Alastair Buchan, which ‘concludes that Omega is for military purposes,”’ says Mr MacLeod. The editorial said: “We ourselves are in possession of a letter from the Hon. Alastair Buchan, Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies, London, who considers that Omega does have a military function, probably a primary one. 1 would like to point to that word ‘probably.' I wish also to make it clear that Mr Buchan was offering an opinion, and although it was based on a study of unclassified source material I think' it is going too far to describe that opinion as an ‘independent military analysis’.” A further statement from Dr Hutton, Mr Austin and Mr Howell on the Omega issue will be printed in “The Press” tomorrow. This statement was submitted to us on May 7 in reply to an article summarising Mr Turner’s criticisms, and was referred to Mr Turner for comment. Before Mr Turner’s comments on the statement were received, another statement by Dr Hutton and his colleagues was submitted. This statement was printed in the May 9 issue of “The Press.” Dr Hutton and his colleagues have since advised us that their second statement was intended to be in addition to and not instead of their earlier statement.