Reservations on Concorde

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 15

Reservations on Concorde

(N.Z. PA. -Reuter— Copyright) LONDON, March 21. Britain would refuse French demands for quantity production of the supersonic Anglo-French Concorde when French and British ministers meet in London a week tomorrow, the “Observer” newspaper said today.

In a front-page article by its air correspondent, Andrew Wilson, the newspiper said that the meeting between the British Aviation Supply Minister (Mr D. Corfield) and his French opposite number, Mr Jean Chamant, was to have been for a final review of the project.

But, the article said, the British Government had been profoundly distrubed by the figures submitted by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (8.0.A.C.) showing that Concorde could be flown only at a loss. “Following criteria laid down by the Labour Government, the Cabinet is refusing to authorise production without clear evidence that airlines are willing to buy the plane,” Wilson wrote. At present there were no orders, just options on 24 aircraft which were not binding on the airlines concerned. The “Observer” article said ti at to cancel the project would have a bad effect on employment figures in Britain and would gravely en-

danger Britain’s relations with France on the matter. “But to commit Britain to continuing without any quid pro quo would be to throw away a valuable bargaining counter,” the article said. "This has determined the Government to postpone a decision on Concorde until the summer, when Britain is expected to resume the Common Market talks frustrated by French reservations earlier this month.”

It also seemed, the article concluded, that any further delay on the Common Market would result in the Cabinet reviewing the spending of Elm a week on an aircraft that might never go into service.