Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-01
Civil Advisers
To Form Basis.
Of Space Unit
President Informs
Leaders of PIuns
For New Agency
BY GARRETT ID. HORNER
star stan Writer

|
BY GARRETT ID. HORNER
star stan Writer
President Eisenhower plans
to use the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics as
q basis for q new Government
space agency. Senate Repub-
lican Leader Knowland dis
closed today.
Senator Knowland said at
the White House that the
NACA would be expanded 50
1t would be In effect Q ma
tional aeronautics and space
agency under the Presidents
plan.
He added that it would take
over direction Of most Of Amer
ica's satellite programs and
moon exploration projects. now
being carried on by the armed
services.
The administration plan for
the civilian space agency was
outlined at a conference be-
tween the President and Re
publican congressional leaders
at the White House today.
Other Topics Discussed
Senator Knowland said the
conference also included:
l. Discussion Of administra-
ton proposals for reorganiza-
ton OF the Defense Depart
ment which the Senator thinks
would make a considerable i'm
provement over the present
situation"
2. A forecast to the Presi-
dent by the Republican lead
ers that Congress will not over
ride his veto Of q bill that
would have frozen farm price
supports at 1857 levels.
Special Message Due
The President expects to sub
NIT his recommendations for
the new civilian space agency
to Congress In a special mes
sage tomorrow or Thursday,
Senator Knowland said.
He also said a special mes
sage outlining the Presidents
Defense Department reorgani-
zation proposals may go to Con-
gress before 1t quits Thursday
for an Easter recess. although
this message might be delayed
until after the recess.
The briefing Of the Republic
can congressional leaders today
on space matters took the place
Of a bipartisan conference
which the President had tried
to arrange.
Senator Knowland said he
understood Democratic Senate
and House leaders had been in
vited to q bipartisan meeting
last week on proposals for a
civilian agency to take over
scientific space programs and a
brieflng on other space mat
tiers. But. he said, "for reasons
not known to me-" It appar-
emily was not convenient for
the Democratic leadership to
attend.
Briefing Was Held Up
He added that the briefing
OF Republican congressional
leaders was held up for a week
In the hope of the administra-
ton that a bipartisan confer
ence could be arranged.
The Senator explained that
the National Advisory Commit
tee for Aeronautics would be
the nucleus of the new space
agency under the Presidents
plan. He said the proposal in
volved changing its name to
something like National Aero
nautics and Space Agency.
He would think. Senator
KnowlAnd told newsmen. that
the new agency would carry on
the work now being done by
the NACA in new Developments
affecting planes as well as ad-
ditionalwork in the space field.
Civilian Agency's Task
Asked where the line would
be drawn between military and
civilian space activities, he said
that Of course the military
agencies would carry on their
development Of intercontinen-
tai ballistic missiles and other
space weapons.
But he said he thought the
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