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1299 U11ident(fied [ LORDS ] Flyi11g Objects 1300
[Lord Hewlett.] j trying to prove the existence of nothing
phenomenon whicJ1 requircs--I have or that something docs not exist. I am
given way a good number of times and I saying that in the scientific evidence so
should be grateful if the noble Lord would far-and I can deal only in detail with
let ·me finish my sentence. I am saying the United Kinc-dom-therc is no evider;ce
that Jodrcll Bank, which covers the whole \Vhatever from the greatest radio telescope
of the United Kingdom, has been on watch of a single UFO. l think that the
for 30 years. It is probably the most attitudes of defence establishments world-
powerful radio teiescope in the world. 1 wide, even including the Soviet Union,
With great respect, if it has found nothing j are probably wise; they must display the
whatsoever to report in a positive way antithesis of over-confidence and com-
then, for the noble Lord, Lord Davies of placmcy. lest there should perchance be
Leek, to throw at me, " some scientists some new arm of warfare that they have
think that ... " is not good enough. not adequately explored or even entered.
Particularly did this attitude apply in
Lord DAVIES of LEEK: My Lords. 1 the first decade after the Second World
we must not take more time. I' War when, frankly, the start of the
" cold war" and the intense fear of the
Lord HEWLETT: No my Lords, we Soviet Union's possible aggression against
must not, so f fear that the noble Lordi' the West when we were the sole possessors
must give way to the argument. I shall 1 of atomic V't:apons, must have provoked
give way to the noble Earl Lord Kimberley. l such a degree of intense interest in the
I knew that I slJould have a rough time! Ipossibility of a new arm of \Varfare.
I am sorry that the right reverendThe Earl of KIMBERLEY: My Lords, Prelate the Bishop of Norwich is not
does the noble Lord not think it con- here, but I am glad that the noble Lord,
ceivable that Jodrell Bank says that there Lord Trefgarne, is on the Opposition
are no UFOs because that is what it has Front Bench. I quote from Sir Bernard:been told to say?
"Whether we are the only people in the
Iuniverse is entirely a11other matter. That is a
Lord HEWLEIT: I certainly think it subject of Yery serious importance and i~ being
inconct:ivable-absolutcly and completely 1 investigated ".
in~on~eivable. [ have known t~is 1 But there is no direct connection between
sctenttst personally for more than ...iOI· the possibility of other persons occupying
years. J would not drcatn of gain~ other bodies, either within or outside
along for a briefing, so to speak, on the , our own solar system. However, one
estimation that he was to con me or that thing is quite clear: there is an infinitesimal
I was some tool of the CIA to kid vour 1 chance that there e'\ists other people who
Lordships. Please do not let . m; carry I could be within our time-frame--and I
this fantasy too far. I shall deai with j refer of course to the statements made by
one or two other aspects of the noble/' the noble Lord, Lord Gladwyn, and the
Earl's speech and then he shall see somt: noble Earl, Lord Halsburv-who would
correlation to the whole of my argument. be able to spend perhaps ten or hundreds
I of light years getting here and who wouldLet us turn to the defence interests of ! •
1 have surv1ved that length of time in those
the P7ntagon and ,other Western defence ! atrocious conditions and entered our earth
estahl1shme~~s. ''hen they have been I atmosphere assuming that they are some
challenged t •. ey l.1ave r~ft~sed ,to say th~t / so~t of humanity and have some form of
UFOs do not ex1~t. N?t ~a' e they sa1d I flymg . sat~'~!• or whatever our friends
th:at UFO; do .cx1st. Tncy are no~ com- 1 proc!alln 1t ts. How could they possibly
mttted. We a1e all men of t~Je WOfl.d and j meet us in those circumstances? Let us
frankly ~here are :-dv<~nt.ages Ill makmg_ an , take the million-to-one possibility that
mtern~t1onal ovc1 -csttmate of_ the posst~le 1 they could. Do your Lordships mean to
potent1al str~ngth.. of one s potenti~tl , tell me that they could get so clos':! to us
enemy ~nd h1~ ab1hty to combat one 1!1 I as to be sighted, but be incapable of any
, sectors 111
'~htch one .cannot adequately ' form of communication or identification
I rep!~. r thmk that 1t woul~ be most ! whatever? No, I am sorry.
unwtse of any defence establtshment to j
; make a categorical denial of UFOs, and , l have listened most carefully to every-
\ equally foolish of me to do so. I am not I thing that has been said. The noble
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