428. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Embassy in Yugoslavia1
2. Belgrade for Daddario. Outer Space.
US delegation to outer space committee met privately with Soviet today at Soviet request.2 Soviets read from lengthy paper indicating possibilities of compromise and areas where they continue to insist on their position.
Soviets said they could accept US views to effect that: Fact that programs of scientific cooperation are not dependent upon agreement on legal issues; jurisdiction over space vehicles in flight should belong to state of registry; state in which space vehicle accidentally lands should have right to seek identifying data from launching state; international organizations may share with their member states responsibility for their space activities.
Soviets continue to stress necessity of prohibition on space observation activities and on war propaganda.
Not possible to evaluate yet whether achievement of consensus is possible. Tone of Soviet presentation was moderate. Seems clear Soviets did wish to begin negotiations prior to opening outer space committee, and that negotiations will require considerable amount of time. At this point, US delegation believes it not likely that committee report will be able indicate areas of progress beyond Lachs consensus statement made on May 3 at conclusion legal subcommittee session (see paragraph 10 and 11 of legal subcommittee report).3
Please treat above as confidential.4
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, SP 6 UN. Confidential. Repeated to the Department of State as telegram 743. The text printed here is the Department’s copy.↩
- The U.S. position paper is ibid., SCI Files: Lot 65 D 473, SP 6, June–Dec. 1963.↩
- UN doc. A/AC.105/12, pp. 3–4.↩
- Printed from an unsigned copy.↩