Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

telegram are as follows:
(A) Policy directive has not hindered desirable scientific and technological cooperation
in any practical way except in the area of communications satellite
technology. However, the existence of this policy has undoubtedly colored
European views as to the disinterested nature of US offers of cooperation.
(B) Scientific or industry dissatisfaction has not been reflected as irritant on political
lines since 1964 negotiations. Political interest may reappear prior to
1969 negotiations.
(C) The divergencies of view among British interests on communications satellite
technology were analyzed in Embassy’s A-1084 of Nov. 4. To summarize
briefly, the GPO is fundamentally concerned with efficient economic communications
and less involved in political and industrial considerations. The
GPO strongly supports the concept of a single global system. The foreign
office is anxious to abtain [sic] political cohesion in Europe and will seek
European consensus even [4] at some compromise of domestic ambitions.
Industry primary interest is to secure larger share of INTELSAT procurement
and will support vigorously any proposal, either for a single system or an independent
system, which will improve its competitive position, vis-à-vis US
industry. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) is not taking a more active role in
the communications satellite question due to participation in IDCSP and possibly
ADCSP. Any MOD support for independent European initiative will
depend largely on its experience with joint US/UK military projects.
(D) If British are assured of US commitment to genuine cooperative effort in
communications satellite technology, we believe they would be prepared to
give the required assurances. Clarification on the role of regional and national
systems (e.g. ABC proposal for US national TV relay system) would be
required. Also Europeans may wish to launch experimental satellites using
US launchers. Embassy judgement here is not based on specific comments
from industry or government but from the interpretation of expressions of
opinion by the Foreign Office, GPO and industry contacts over the past year
or so. Bruce
BT
Document I-24
Document title: Memorandum from J.D. O’Connell for the President, February 8, 1967,
with attached: “A Global System of Satellite Communications: The Hazards Ahead,”
February 8, 1967.
Source: Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, Austin, Texas (used with permission).
General James D. O’Connell, the individual responsible for promoting the U.S. policy objective of creating
a single global system of satellite communications based on INTELSAT, saw many hazards
ahead. This memorandum sketches his perceptions of the challenges to achieving this policy objective.
[1] MEMORANDUM
EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 99