Office of the Historian

104. Telegram From the Embassy in Austria to the Department of State1

Vienna, August 16, 1968, 1602Z.

6010. Subject: Outer Space Conference (Intersputnik). Ref: State 219721.2

1.
In agreement with USDel Chairman Webb, I met privately with FonMin Waldheim this morning to discuss several matters including Outer Space Conference which he chairs. Drawing on reftel and other messages, developed reasons why we strongly support INTELSAT and why we would be much concerned if Conference acted to inflate Soviet Intersputnik proposal or let it be considered as substitute for INTELSAT or otherwise. Waldheim said he understood and could assure us Conference as such would not go along with any such Soviet maneuvers although he could not, of course, predict what Soviets might do or say. He added when Soviets approached Vice President of Conference Sarabhai (Vienna 5980)3 to give a paper on Intersputnik in addition to [Page 197] paper it already agreed they were to present, Sarabhai had consulted Waldheim who instructed Soviet proposal should be rejected on procedural grounds since it had not been cleared by panel as required.
2.
Referring to Soviet motivation, Waldheim said Soviets have been opposed to INTELSAT from very beginning (1) on doctrinal grounds since private enterprise (capitalism) is heavily involved and (2) because if Soviets joined they would have virtually no voice because Soviets have less than 5 percent of global communications traffic. Waldheim believes Soviets [garble] making Intersputnik proposal as ploy (that French and some LDC’s may be disposed to support) to enhance Soviet capability to bring about revision of INTELSAT charter and rules to make them more acceptable to Soviets.
3.
Our discussion concluded with some general talk re role of UN and agreement that while UN indispensable organization, it very dubious that it should try to take over certain types of activity that are today being handled successfully by private enterprise working closely with interested governments.
MacArthur
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Central Files, 1967–69, SP 6 UN. Confidential. Repeated to Brussels, London, Moscow, Ottawa, Paris, and Rome.↩
  2. Document 103.↩
  3. Dated August 15. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Central Files, 1967–69, SP 6 UN)↩