JAPAN NOT TOLD BY USSR ABOUT SATELLITE CRASH

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06771766
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: March 16, 2020
• Case Number: F-2018-02723
• Publication Date: January 27, 1978

Approved for Release: 2019/01/28 C06771766
CLASSIFIE
This work sheet contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage
Sections 793. 794 and 799, this transmission or the revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorised pitirSaft is prohibi:
CLASSIFIED WORK S;IEET
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Approved for Release: 2019/01/28 C06771766
Approved for Release: 2019/01/28 C06771766
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clUNcLAS BBC
r.� SONODA: JAPAN NOT TOLD BY USSR ABOUT SATELLITE CRASH
IL
010W270 5,1Y
!iTOKYO KYODO IN ENGLISH 0,7 GMT 27 JAN 7g OW
()
((TEXT)) TOKYO JAN 27 KYODO--FOREIGN MINISTER SUNAO
SONODA SAID FRIDAY THAT THE SOVIET UNION 010 NOT TELL JAPAN
ABOUT THE CRASH OF A SATELLITE CARRYING A NUCLEAR REACTOR
EARLIER THIS WEEK.
P
CI
SONODA TOLD NEWSMEN AFTER FRIDAY'S REGULAR CABINET
--SESSION THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ASK THE SOVIET UNION TO
--REPORT SUCH ACCIDENTS TO COUNTRIES CONCERNED IN THE FUTURE.
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Cf)
SONODA TOLD THE CABINET MEETING OF HIS DESIRE FOR EARLY
RATIFICATION OF A MULTILATERAL TREATY ON COMPENSATION FOR
()WAAGE CAUSED BY MAN-MADE OBJECTS FROM SPACE.
SUCH ACTION WAS ADVANCED THURSDAY BY THE GOVERNMENT'S
SPACE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
0 SONODA SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ACCIDENT
WBY THE UNITED STATES. THE REPORT WAS KEPT SECRET AT THE
ILREQUEST OF THE UNITED STATES AND BECAUSE THERE WAS LITTLE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE SATELLITE WOULD CRASH IN JAPAN.
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< SONODA SAID VISITING CANADIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY 00NALD
^ JAmIESoN PROMISED To PROVIDE JAPAN WITH DATA ON SURVEYS
()CONDUCTED BY CANADA.
THE SOVIET SATELLITE PLUNGED THROUGH THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE
AND CRASHED INTO NORTHERN CANADA TUESDAY.
o JUSTICE MINISTER mITSUO SETOYAMA AND TRANSPORT MINISTER
n-KENJI FUKUNAGA EXPRESSED REGRET AT THE SOVIET FAILURE TO
u-NOTIFY JAPAN OF THE ACCIDENT. 27037 SCHOTOFF YM 27/0612Z JAN
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Approved for Release: 2019/01/28 C06771766