Adenauer to Issue Statement on German Scientists Working in Egypt

Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, now vacationing in northern Italy, will soon make a public statement on the controversy over West German scientists working in Egypt on advanced weapons systems, it was reported here today. The draft of such a statement was understood to have already been considered at the meeting of the West German Cabinet here yesterday.

The West German Government meanwhile stuck to its figure of “about ten” as the number of West German scientists of academic status engaged in rocket work for the Egyptian Government. This figure excluded Prof. Eugen Saenger who was induced by the Government to quit work for Egypt in 1961. A Government spokesman was unable to give any other examples of official efforts to induce scientists to return from Egypt as had been mentioned in a statement given after the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

No details were available here today as to what steps the Government was considering in the situation, but steps were believed to have been reviewed at a meeting of senior officials of the Chancellor’s office, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministries of Economics, Justice and the Interior held yesterday in preparation for the Cabinet meeting.

It was noted that the Federal Republic already has a law requiring government approval for the export of offensive weapons. One possibility which was suggested would be a new law requiring similar approval for West German citizens to take part in the production of weapons in other countries. Another possibility presumed under consideration was to bring pressure to bear on the scientists working in Egypt by making it clear they would thereby spoil their chances for taking up academic posts later in West Germany.