127. Telegram 2755 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1 2
New York, July 2, 1976, 2250Z
Subj:
- Outer Space Committee: Wrap-up
- 1.
- Summary-Outer Space Committee concluded July 2 with relatively routine report recommending continued work on existing priority items: moon treaty, direct broadcast satellite principles and remote sensing; and further study by Secretariat and/or subsidiary organs of following topics: definition of outer space, world conference on space, expansion of Secretariat’s outer space affairs division and international implications of energy systems in space. Schedule of 1977 meetings: Scientific and Technical Subcommittee 14–26 February; Legal Subcommittee 14 March-8 April; and the OSC 13–24 June; all meetings in New York. End summary.
- 2.
- Substantial time at this year’s OSC meetings was consumed by procedural and administrative discussion. Following general debate (summarized USUN 2658), Committee did not focus in depth on any substantive matters, which accords with traditional US effort to maintain work primacy of the two Subcommittees. Chairman Jankowitsch was absent at ECOSOC in Abidjan for final three days, and meetings to develop substantial part of Committee report were chaired by Rapporteur Minister Lindenberg Sette (Brazil).
- 3.
- On moon treaty, Committee noted work of LSC and expressed hope that text could be completed at its next session, agreeing that TOM should continue to have high priority in LSC work. There was no effort to make progress on existing issues at current session.
- 4.
- On DBS principles, Committee noted LSC’s considerable progress in elaborating principles, noting the subject matter of the nine principles formulated by Working Group II of LSC, noting also that the LSC had decided not to formulate principles on spillover and disruption. The Committee also recommended DBS continue as a topic of high priority. It was clear that most delegates here have strong hopes that DBS will be concluded at the next LSC. The outstanding issues of prior consent, participation and illegal/in-admissible broadcasts will be the principal topics to be addressed. USSR expressed willingness to consider combination of consent and inadmissible concepts in a single paragraph and allowed privately that a formula might even be found that did not use the loaded word “consent”. UK rep Dalton in private conversation with Stowe and Doyle stressed need to prepare for next session with a viable proposal or proposals that could be tabled. UK has been staunch ally in DBS debate: close collaboration in planning for LSC on this issue should be mutually beneficial to US and UK. FRG is clearly next strongest ally in this area.
- 5.
- On remote sensing principles, the Committee noted progress made and recommended that LSC continue its priority work on principles formulated on the basis of common elements. Retention of the procedural step of arriving first at common elements was strongly opposed by Soviets who recognize that such an approach on DBS would have precluded the contentious issue of consent from being developed as a principle. After protracted haggling, however, common element approach was retained.
- 6.
- In reviewing work of the S&T Subcommittee, Committee noted with satisfaction work to date on remote sensing issues and shared Subcommittee views that use of RS data would become an integral part of national economies as well as planning activities and endorsed conclusion that international cooperation is needed. Committee also shared view the UN could not be expected to own or operate ground or space segment in the foreseeable future. Committee noted and endorsed a number of findings and conclusions of S&T Subcommittee on operational and organization aspects. Regarding future UN role Committee concluded, in consonance without instructions, that full utilization of present organs would be preferable to either re-establishing working group or creating new panel of experts.
- 7.
- On UN Space Applications Program, Committee expressed appreciation to many governments and organizations for work done with or for UN in applications programs, noting the views of several delegations that the program should be extended in scope and content and needs greater financial support, it endorsed the proposed program for 1977 but made no recommendations on expansion or on increased funding.
- 8.
- On UN space conference, Committee recommended further consideration and study by the Secretariat and preparation of an options study, noting possible collaboration with IAF or ITU or other already planned conferences.
- 9.
- Committee endorsed need for greater coordination between Subcommittees and identified three areas where such coordination would be useful: (a) definition of remote sensing terminology; (b) definition of outer space; and (c) definition of natural resources of the moon and other celestial bodies; all of which were referred to S&T last year.
- 10.
- On S&T work overall Committee agreed that remote sensing should continue to have highest priority and endorsed S&T recommendation that work continue on consideration and review of UN Space Applications Program and options relating to a possible conference on space matters.
- 11.
- With reference to meeting schedule Committee engaged in lengthy debate on timing, sequence, and location of sessions. USSR, while accepting that all sessions will be in New York in 1977, insisted upon requesting General Assembly consideration of rotating Subcommittee session tradition.
- 12.
- On question of expansion of Secretariat Outer Space Affairs division, UK took lead in blunting this effort at expansion and US was not required to enter debate which ended in recommendation for further study of matter. Authority contained in State 163964, which US del very much appreciates, was not used as UK effort stopped active consideration of expansion for the moment.
- 13.
- On definition of outer space consideration, France attempted to add to LSC agenda item on this issue reference to space objects and vehicles (des objets et engins spatiaux). US successfully challenged inclusion of such reference in LSC study mandate on understanding that there would be informal consideration of French views on this matter at next LSC.
- 14.
- This telegram not seen by Stowe.
Scranton