(Reviser:! Oct 62) REFERRED TO FOLIO DATE I I FOR REFERRED I ACTk~NED I FOLIO DATE I ACTIONEO ATTENTION INITIALS REFERRED TO TTFOE R I REFERRED BY NTION INITIALS FILE LOCATION CARD SUD SEP. ff1 AEHRAED TO DATE REFERRED TO THIS PAGE IS REPRODUCED FROM A BADLY FADED OR ILLEGIBLE SOURCE. SCANNING THIS ITEM AT A HIGHER RESOLUTION WILL NOT IMPROVE ITS LEGIBIL TY. E 2'lit::~Cnt Hou~e, I tic te t t yvu 11'111 MTo rocoim b n:: ht.tcr t.roc Clr.1r'tz ~teO 25t~ Juno, 1%3, r.dlot he .ct n ililio~ ra->S.rr .nio!l oct o u.t the nt'o view on :lnvo.:l1.i t cmo into I.IDi t1f1o4 oer1o1 ;hc!1 (Sgd.J GORDON FREETH W.~JfliBg;:- !;, PARL.IAMENT OF AUSTRAL.IA , -'' HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 3 NAPIER STRET, IP o. eox 70), ESSENOON, VIC TEL 37 2ll6 My dear Minister, I refer to my representations on behalf of Mr. P . E. Norris, President of the Commonwealth Aerial Phenomena Investigation Organization and your advice of the 16th May, 1968, that you would make enquiries into this matter. I also refer to your answer to a question of mine without notice to the effect that the subject was still under consideration. request for some financial assistance fro~ the Commonwealth to help solve what is now recognized as an international problem is one which I feel should not be dismissed too lightly on the grounds of scepticism. I enclose copy of a statement of C.A.P.I.O. in respect to the United States grant of U. S . $500,000 to the University of Colorado to finance investigation of U.F.Os as an indication of that Government's thinking in this Freeth, M.P., Minister for Air, House of Representatives, (Philip w. Stokes) Member for Maribyrnong. CO~ONWEALTH A-ERIAL PHENOMENA INVESTIGATION ORGANISATION: THE COLORADO PROJFCT: 12th floor 100 Collins Street Melbourne. u.s. LCIENTISTS TO PROBE U.F.O'S In October 19-6 the Un1 d States Air Force anm meed that a sum of $3 0.000 (eubeeq ~ntly increased to $500.000) would be made availabl~ to the U~iveraity of Colorado to permit the establishment of a full time -rojeot to investigate the problem of the unident1fied fly ng objects. Head of the Project is Dr.Edward U. rondon the University's Professor of Physics and one of the country's outstanding and more outspoken scientists. Besides Dr. Condon. the Project includes Mr. Robert J. Low, an Engineer. who is Project Co-ordinator: Dr. Michael Wertheimer, a psychologist: Dr. William Blumer a Meteorologist. and Dr. Joseph Rush a r :lYSiciet. Informatior received by C.A.P.I.O indicates that the specific aa$iKnroents ~ow being undertaken are the development of a sighting case file which will be accessible to sorting by ter: planrir.g 1or one or more well trained teams of liel .... r:- s igators; dealo;;:cent of a spec1al sighting interrogation) f rm: pr . . ng a mta:'lual or booklet. including ckground 1nfo: ~tion on astronomy for public guidance in observing and reporting U. F .O's; giving serjous consideration to an effort to .eploy instruments for detection of U.F.O's and for gathering quantitative data. A major effort is being made to open up new sources of information amon~ professional pilots and others who would be likely to see rros: also to re-oren i~formation sources which. for reasons of dissatisfaction with the Air Force Project (Project Bluebook) have stopped reporting sightings. For one scientif~c exp iment. engineers of one of the largest automobile companies i.1 the country will attempt to determine exactly what co l cause ailure of the electrical systems of a tomobiles. as 1s of~en reported as a result of the close approach of UFO's. W:agazn1e of 4th August 196?, the Project ~ n a omputer-aided a_, 1is o! 2000 r.ce . In addition. three aightings y ample photograph c or ~ye witness evidence are intenoive exam1natio . It is anticipated that the report w1ll oe completed ar.d published in September One otrer Sc1e~ st who 1s closely associated wjth the C l r~oo ?roj~ t a Dr. James E.b onald. Professor of Meteorology at the University of Arizona. Dr. :.:cDor.a1d recer:tly a p eared before the United Nations Outer Space ~rfairs Group ar.d made the following statement on UFO's :- 1. Tbere are stron~ ir.dications of increased close approaches by UFO'S here and abroad. 2. It is not po~sible to explain all the sightings as natural pher.omena or as secret tests of highly advanced aerial or s?a~e vehic1cs built on earth. 3. In spie of of~.c~el decu;;Kir.c . the verified evidence points to sc:::e .~r . . ~wr.. .:;r.eno~enon about which all of us must quickly become Letter informed. 4. The most probable hypothesis is that the UFO' s are extra-terresLrial probes capable of causing EM. (Electromagnetic} interference and other unusual effects. 5. The importance of the problem to our world if UFOs are actually extra terrestrial probes should quickly bring about international scientific co-operation to discover all possible information. prestigiots Natior.al Investip:ations Cocmittee on Aerial Ptenome~a. largest and meet influential of the l..:nerican :.:-ro ~r:vate :resea!"c!: groups sw;;s up t'"-.e Colorado Project as ~allows:- "Clearly this 's a new era of UFO research. ~iow that "':;"'r.e valid"ty "f the Air ?:>rce expla~ations for UFO's has been seriousl:, ~:estio!led ar.d the> doubts act.e ... upon, it is time f < r .... r~-!":.er.t<Hlor. of efforts. We have long been aware ol the llllc~e influence on public opinion (including scientists) that official pronouncements r~ve had, delay~r.g an open study and cisleading those who could bring a resolL<.tion to the problen. All indications are that the investigators fully intend to have a thoro;gh look at the !acts. If this is done. we are confident that scepticism will THIS PAGE IS REPRODUCED FROM A BADLY FADED OR ILLEGIBLE SOURCE. SCANNING THIS ITEM AT A HIGHER RESOLUTION WILL NOT IMPROVE ITS LEGIBILTY. .''ile llo. ( :rotice .'arer (1 ;::.rli:llllento.ry JJcb:o.\.Q3 in (notwe of Hepl.'.:laento.tives UNlOENTIFIED FLYT:-:C OHJECTS 1\lr ~TOKI\S~l ask the M.nlstcr lor Air ~ qu tion which relates to rcrrcscntations which T have matlc to him on buhnlf o( the Commonwcnl!h Aerinl Phenomena lowcti g~lion Orl,'llnis~tion, requcMing a govern mcnt [lrnnt to assist with research into unidentified fiying objects. H~s the ~linstcr $~en recent Press reports of sight111~s oi unu.lcntified llying objects in the Wontha~gi <ll\trict of Victor~a? r. he in " po'ltonn to ~ay whether some Commonwealth a<sist.,ncc in thi' m;,ttcr may be expected? ;\lr FRI::t:.Tll-1 have ackoowledgcc.l rcceirt from the honourable mcmhcr of rcpre,entations $Ccking Commonwealth ~--i<tancc in the mvcstigation or reports o[ unidcn:ified flying objects. This m:ltter is being constdcrctl. I cannot undertak~ to ~'c the honour.1hlc member I'CC)' ~rcat en coura~-emcnt, because a' far a\ [:ovcrn men\~ arc concerned, no precise dctcrmina tion h:~s ever t>ccn m~c.lc as to where ~cicncc fiction bcy.in$ in rclaton to rerom of unidentified flying objects or to what extent the reports .ore related to reality. Mr Stol;cs-The United States of America "' making invcstigMons. Mr rnEETll-I know that far mo re mtcn<~focd investigation of thi mJttcr l~ procccuing in the United St~tcs. I bore 10 be nhlc to g<ve the honour~ble gcntlcmnn ~ reply to nis representations in the ncar j,'Or prepe>.ration Of ;l reply for the l!ini::ter IS c.n>rov,:U_ ple ~39 THIS PAGE IS REPRODUCED FROM A BADLY FADED OR ILLEGIBLE SOURCE. SCANNING THIS ITEM AT A HIGHER RESOLUTION WILL NOT IMPROVE ITS LEGIBILTY. Parl iLment Ucus , C ffi PA. A.C.T. ~(>00 Deer Mr. Stokes, I baYe r coivod from my colloaguo the Minister for [ducnt!on and Science your peraonnl reproacnt tions on behalf of r. P. . orria, rrouidon~ of th~ Cor.l' onvodt.b Aorbl lhenomeut. Investigation OrJan.Ls:a\ion. I shall onquire into tho ~ttora you bave raiaed and vrito to you kgnin shortly. P.V. Stokea, Faq., M.P., Puliaeent House, loura ainc~troly, {Sgd.) GORDON FREETH ( GOnJJ(H! FREETJI ) THIS PAGE IS REPRODUCED FROM A BADLY FADED OR ILLEGIBLE SOURCE. L_ sc_A_N_N-:I=NG==T=H=IS::-IT_E-:M=A=T=A=H=IG=H=E=A=RE=S=O=L=U=T=IO=N=W=IL=L=N=O=T::-IM_P_R_o_v_E_IT_S_L_E_G_IB_IL_T_Y_. _ _j MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE Private Secretary to the Minister for Air PARUAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA. AC.T. llALCOLll .V!1:\..,~ - For your J.linister's cons1.derat1.on Private Secretary ;,;,.k:=r/...;;' Yl').'ifi!!AM'Ii: :r OF' AUSTRALIA <o7i;l[.' ~6 l~ OFF ~PRESENTATIVES <ssfNDON, VIC 10th April, 1968. My dear Minister, You will no doubt recall the discussion I had with you on or about the 13th March, 1968, concerning a request by Mr. P. E. Norris, President of ohe Co~onweelth Aerial Phenomena Investigation Organisation for assistance from the Commonwealth. -=- I shall be pleased to learn whether a~ything further has eventuated in this matter. (~hilip~. Stokes) Member for ~arib;vrnong. l!i~ste:: for Education and Science, 7; .... Co~cnwealth Parliament Offices~v ~ lfELBOTt:;~ ;,, 'l,OOO. CO.WI.O~'.'IEAl.7!1 AE~IA~ F11Er:OI:.ENA INVESTICATION ORGANiSAT.ON 100 Col11r.a Streot, ! . el bour M. Slat Octobe~, 1967, ~.P.W.C. Stokes, l.Ui.R. Hous" of Repr.::a.>:::tatives, :::.ear Si:r, I have ?leas~e ~n er.closing te~ewit~ a :::.ote d escr:!.bir.g: the ,_.tcrk be<.,., g -:.:r..iertaker. o~ unider.tifieo. I ~lying ObJects by ~he University cf Colo~aao ur.d~= t he auspices of ~he United Sta~es A~ Perce. '.::y 0 :-!isatic:'l rr..aint:::ir.s t 1-.at a ~ sim:!.!.ar Projec"t ~aug-~ated in :.us-:::.-alia 19i"t!"! Co::!l:lonwec.l\. . i'w:ds would be c! assista!:.ce i!l :'::.s!.pi:ng to solve tl':e c::reat ir.t~r:::.atio l preble~ of the ~?0's. Your ass~s~ere ir. b~!~ei~g t~is ~;te~ to the atte ion of e Gove =e will Oe g~ eatly aJ:p:eciated. P. 3. NCP.RIS .. Pre3id.:nt. 12th floor 100 Collins Street. !:elbourne. U.S. SCIE::~ISTS 'l'O ?nO!'E U. F. 0 'S !n oc'to'l)ar 1966 the United Statec Air Force announced that be ~de ~vailable to the U~ivarcity c! Cc:oruao to per~.!t t~a est~bl:.shccnt of a fu~l time project to ir:vestigate the problem of the unidenti~ied flying objects. ~e~j of ~he Project is Dr.E~warc.u. Condo~ t~e Ur:ive~si~y's ?ro!'esscr o!' Pcysics a.:-.d oce of the country's outstatLdi!!g and more outsp<:ken scientists. Besides Dr. Ccr:Joi .. the ?reject :!:.eludes :~. Robert J . :.c-,:, a:: Engi::::.eer. who is Project Co-ordir.ator' :D:::-. :.:ic:--.ael l'ler'theiEer, a psyc!1ologist; Dr. Willi:::.m Elu.u:er a ~!eteoro:ogist. ::.:.c Dr . .icseph R:.:sh a physicist. Inior ion =aceiveC by C.A.?.I.O ~Cic~tes trzt e specific aswigr~ents nmv being undertake~ are ~ne develo~ment of a .si,;:::ti:l; case file which \'Till be accessible to sorting by .cor::?::.te~; pls. l.l.f; for or.e Ol" ::ore wa!.l t~ai-::eC tea c: !!~ld :.:-.~;estig~::o!s; develcp=ent o.f.a spec:.i..l sig~ti:!S (ir<'terruga-tion) for::1: pr.;-pari?ig a t".am.:al or boo~:let. l.r.cludi:.s backgrour:d inforz::s."ion on ast::-onol:ly for public guida:1ce i~ obse=ving sr.e re~orti~g U.~.Os: giving serious cor.sieeratior. 'tO a~ a~:ort o de~loy ir.s er.ts :or detection cf u.F.Os and tor gathering quanti tatiYe data. :. ::::::.jo:::-effor is being made to open up new sou::ces of i:;~crr:E.t:.o:--. G:nor..g 'P~ .. o:"e:::s:..cr.a!. pi::.o-ts c.r.d otr..ers w~o v:o -d b~ like::; 'to see u?O's: also ~o r'l- o-pen ir.forr..ation so~ces which. ::or reascns oi dissatisfc.c-.:.or. with the Air ?orca froject (Project Bluebook) have stopped reporting sic~'tings. Per C':':e sc.er:ti!"ic e:-r;eri::!er . er...;il:ee:-s o~ c:--,e O!:~ t .. .;: :a:"ge~t ~uto::obile compa:-~ies i::-! the country will ate:::pt "CQ de~.c::.-:::::.n~ exaot:!.y what could cause failt<le of 'the elec;rics.~ sycta~s of au~o:::obiles. as often re~o~ted as a result of t~e close :,cccrdi~f! to "Ti:ne" l.!e.gazine of 4th Augus-.; 1967, the Project is :-em well m-.d er wa:r e.nd a c omputer-e.iced ar.alys::.s of 2000 ~1s::..t:.r~Jc t-...e.e com~er.ced. r~ e.~di tio~. -::::ree s:;.g::,;i~g:: cup'!Jorte':l b;r C:i?le p!lo-; ograpr.ic or eya w:.'tr.ess er:.ce:::~co:! =c :rec~:;iving l.nter.siva e>:e;r.inatio:.. It 1e ano;;icipa-.;.sd th~t -cha jGc-c ':J report w:!.ll be completed ar,d published l.n Scpt.:n:be:r Or ... ot!:e::-Sc:!.er-tist ?'ho l.S clo-ely as;:J ci!!.ted wi'th the Colorado Project is Dr. James E. ;.:cDone.ld, Profq:}sor of 1:eteorology e.t the U:uversity of A:rizon .... D:-. !.:c:Jor:a:c = ece:--~v:y a-p;,aa.~ac be:c:-e ~he Un! t(l~ ?atiC:lS e~e a s o ca o~s of i~c=e~s~d closa =o r.a~ s :.a.r .a a;-d a b:: oaC.. e~o=e~z or es see~e~ ~e=t3 o~ hibly aev c ~e~ia: o:: space \"'e!'li.cles b'-ti'!.t o~ ee~"th. :...~ sp:.te c! o!fici.e.l C.e:r.:~:.::K:.~:..g. ,;he ve~i:Lied ev=..Ocr .. ce -poir:~s to sc::.e ~r cwn ;:::~:::.c::enor. about .v::!.ch. el!. of u~ !:USt Q.U:.c.,.;;_y oeco;ne oett.:::: i7:-.for:ned. T;.o :nost ~!"oos..bla hy~o-:::-_esis is th~t tt":a UPC s ~a e:<:tr::.-terres .rial '!'robas cz.pable of c::.usinf!; ':::i. (Electro~ag!le~;i.c) inter!'ere!".ce a:'ld ot~e~ 1.<r.u:;.u::.l effeo-;;o. Th.: ir:;pc:'ta~ce c! the J:.::'C~!e!:i to o~ worlO '!:" tTO o t:re e.c .:.l:.y e::~Z'C.. Je:i"!".;st::-i&l p:::-obes .:,hOtA1c1 c_uie~-::y C.iscvver ~:.l pcss:"_ble i: :-:-ztior... ~he est oas :a~ic~al ~nvastiget:o~s Cc= ee ir.C:c o~s ~e 2~ t~e ves~icztc~s ~u:ly : e~J t~ ~2ve a =o~g~ lock ~he f~c~s. MINUTE PAPER (This side only lo be wrillen on) ~ec 0 (Air) Further to our recent discussions re folio 22 etc, would please nor. initiate the following ection:- a. Take up with DPR the question of the future actionJu~ of departmental correspondence re unidentified flying object sigbtings. As you I am conce:m.ed at the present delays that exist in answering some of the departoental correspondence on unidentified flying objects. 1/ould you review the nature of the material whi.ch is sent out to enquirers. For example, I don' t think that we should continue to ae.nd out r.tr Roberts address which was made in 1965. In addition I ~ feel that the synopsis of sightings should be reviewed with a vie17 to pruning out some of the earlier years sightings. c . In respect of para 7, folio 22 on this file would you prepare en appropriate draft letter to Departcent of Dei'ence raising this general aspect for consideration. In !)articular the letter should outline our general role in this subject, some of the earlier history as to how we became involved and the system mrich '17e now follow. Then we should refer to the t;rpes of representations tbat are now being ~e on this subject re Co.cJIIlonweal th assistance for funds etc, and then raise the general question as to whether it is appropriate that this department should continue to be the sole "Cocmonwealth agency" in this matter of unidentified flying objects -or whether some other Department should co-ordinate overall Comnonwealth aspects. ',\:\J:tr.n \, 'l:ucs.-The ' )Jint .. t,~ for Air (;.Jr. J'r"C'll1l s.J.id tod lY he could J10t ;i\"t-an, t'll CO\ r:.trcmcnt to pr-.,pfc wlto \\;.~nlcd tht-('ommon- weallh tn sub.-.idlsc. re- 't'.arch Into unidt:n~ilicd llyin: o1,Jccb. He v.-. r4"J>Iymg in thP llou<e or Ropre;;em:\thes to :-orr. P. \",. C. S!oJkes t1.1b. Vc ), 'ho s:ud the Couln:OJ\'o1C'::Ith Acri I Phe- nomcn' Jr.vc.hg't oa O:-- C1nl;~fio" had :\skcd !or lhe e;rt~r..ts. ~fr. S~fkts x-ked i! ~11.. Frctlh h"'d "W('U rcc~"\t. re- ltl'. F'rc-r.th s: ld the ltlal-; t1~r v::.. h in~; cou:,.ldt'l'e:d.l nny encout ,,::;cantJnl. ''A'S f.lt' :n" gov-crnmcntc. :-.re CIJtCtr.lcd, tL h:U nt.!ver b ''t\ pr1cl ,f"ly det'~rnlincd ~,l,'jrcw lett.11 Jo~bf 1~ Uti;ln l.? b_o .... r~l.,~e I let nullty, II< .ld. CAXBERlU, -T h c 1-linister for 1\ir Mr. _.,..- Freeth oaid yestcr-/ day he couli no~ gll'e any enc:ouragement to people who wanted the Con: mom e.1llh to provide grants for iuto uniden- tified t!y:ng objects. 1fe \\a& rep!y.r.g m the House-of Rep:~en! .. thes. to :\tr. S:o~:f'>~ fLJb . \'tc.l who s'i<l 'he COil- ruon'll'eal:h .'.erl t Pr;.p.. nomena In"rt'it,!..a!.lon ;ed the gran:;. Mr. Stokes a!ked tt lrr. Freeth had ~een recc::t T"parts of l'l"O "&h'tn~ 1.1 the Wontbnz~t :Ur. Freeth M!d thr mlltt.N "as bi:mg consido~tr:-d. but ne t.o~old not t dcr- take to gne 3.fr. Sto;;t."i a.H~' e.ncou:.-.g.c:ncnt "-As Ce.r ~ .. , Go. e-rnmcn~ are cooce .. 1cd. I' hns n~. cr been pn.cls~1> dt-t<-nnlned w h e r c . .ne.e fict on e n ds nnd :het'e-th e obJec begin a he sd:ltrd ta Qurstiotu [REPRESENTATIVES] Question1 1\lcKinna >t.llcd that. wher 201 Aus trali.>n soldier.-hnvc JieJ dunng the wholo V1etnam \\.1r, it >S e>t1mated that 3,200 peT- ~ons \\ill die on Austnhan roads du.riog