MOD file DEFE 24/2032/1

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1311 .. . Unidentified [LORDS] Flying Objects l312. [Lord Strabolgi. J. ·
also suggested that Tulli, ~n amateur
Egyptologist, had been taken m by a fake.
Earl suggested that M. Galley had said
that UFOs were real but that he, the
Minister, did not know where they came
lfrom. I have read the transcript of M.·There is a category of UFO cases
which are difficult to explain because the
description is too vague or the evidence
too remote, coupled perhaps. with a
coincidence of different phenomena and
with exceptional conditions. If one accepts
that there are natual explanations that
could account for most sightings, it is. an
enormous and irrational jump to claim
that the residue of difficult cases constitute
alien· space craft when there is ~o posit~ve
evidence that they do constitute ahen
space craft.
I· should mention the famous UFO
reported over the United Kingdom ~n
December 1978, on New Year's Eve m
fact. This was the one probably seen by
the noble Lord, Lord Gainford, to which
he referred. The phenomenon was prob-
ably the re-entry of a launcher associated
with the Russian space satellite COSMOS
1068 launched on 26th December. Of
over' 100 reports reaching the Ministry of
Defence nearly all were factual and
consiste~t with the re-entry of satellite
debris.
The recent sightings in New Zealand
referred to by the noble Lord, Lord
Kin2s Norton, attracted· · worldwide
publicity, and we understand that lhe
New Zealand Government may make an
announcement when the facts have been
assembled and appraised. Preliminary
advice from our High Commission .in
New Zealand shO\VS confident expectation
that the sightings wiil prove to be due to
natural phenomena, as I think the noble
Lord, Lord Trefgarne, and the noble
Earl, Lord Halsbury, implied.
Mv Lords . the noble Earl who initiated
this ~debate 'referred to the attitude of
Galley's broadcast and I also took the
trouble to check it in the original French.
The essence of what the :tvlinister said
was that the phenomena were genuine and
were reported by responsible people, but
that there \Vere aspects that were difficult
to explain. Nov.here did the Minister say
that UFOs were real in the sense that they
represent alien spacecraft, as suggested by
the noble Lord, Lord Rankeillour.
· The noble Earl, Lord Kimberley, also
said that these had been seen by astronauts.
These reports by astronauts were examined
in the Colorado Study. The atron.auts
were required, of course, to report any-
thing unusual perceived on their missions;
and indeed many strange phenomena were
noted. All the phenomena except three
were explained. There was nothing at all
to suggest that the unexplained sig:hti.ags
were alien spacecraft, and the limited
visibility from the small and smeared
windows of a spacecraft did not make visual
observation easy.
It has been suggested in this debate that
our Government are involved in au
alleged conspiracy of silence. I can
assure your Lordships that the Govern-
ment are not engaged in any such con-
spiracy. In view of what the noble Lord,
Lord Gainford, said, I must emphasise
that the Ministry of Defence examines
any UFO reports received to establish
whether they reveal anything of defence
interest but nothing in the reports
examin~d has ever given cause to believe
that they represent alien spacecraft.
There is nothing to have a conspiracy
of silence about. What is more, a visitor
from outer space would be one of the
great events in history. It wot:Id certainly
be an event of stupendous Importance,
but I hesitate to say the greatest event of
all in· the presence of my old friend the
right · reverend prel.ate the Bish.op of
Norwich, whose movmg speech we listened
to with much interest.
· other Governments to UFOs. It is not for
me to speak in this House for other
Governments. I have however already
made mention of the United States study
in 1968 and I understand that nothing has
happened since. that. ~ime to cause t~e
United States authonlles to change the1r
vie\vs or to warrant further official
investigations of UFOs.
'
. . The noble Earl also referred to an
intervie•_v which the then French Minister
of Defence, M. Robert Galley gave in
1974 on the subject of UFOs. The noble
As the noble Earl, Lord Halsbury,
said scientists are rightly inquisitive
people. If there was anything in the
stories of UFOs, we would expect the
scientific community ns a v,;hole to be
devoting much offort to studying or to
making contact with the: supposed aliens;
1313
but the id,:a
by this and
I suggest, tcJ
Then the
implied tl.c.
cover-up. .a
security ban.
ask to see tl
files they ar
rcmnin conf
mundane r'
contain volt.
people, an1
identity of ~
that th6 file
the rules lai
Acts, passe
present pre<
have dapse1
cular corres!
the Mini:.tr
1962.
The no1
mentioned
government
l.Jnited Na
of Grenada
and propos;
decision w~
Assembiy
states " to
national 1
S<:cretary-C
Secretary-(
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not an int
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is seekillg,
Grenada,
countries,
internati()n
Lord K
the word\'
Lord Sl
note of wt
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set up a st~
the noble
noble Lon
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