A West German rocket specialist asserted here today that the aid he and other West German scientists were giving to Egypt could enable Egypt to put satellites into orbit.
Prof. Wolfgang Pilz, who is under contract to the Cairo Government, made the statement in a television interview. He also said that the scientists were giving Egyptian technicians instruction in rocketry and electronics. Dr. Filz worked on rockets for the Nazis regime during World War II.
He reported that West German research could enable Egypt to orbit satellites and send space craft into “other solar systems” but he did not say that the Egyptians planed to go ahead with such space efforts.
Dr. Pilz denied that he and other members of the team of Germen scientists in Egypt were working on atomic, bacteriological or chemical weapons. He also said that none of the 17 members on his team, credited with developing the Egyptian Conqueror rocket, had a shady political past. He denied specifically that he had ever been a member of the Nazi party.
Asked whether he did not consider it improper to be working for a government which has repeatedly threatened to unleash aggressive war against Israel, Dr. Pilz insisted that “my work in Egypt is not directed against Israel in any way. ” He argued that his work in Egypt differed little from that of other West Germans administering and implementing the West German foreign aid programs in Egypt.
He said on the program, which was recorded in Egypt, that he was not planning to return to west Germany in the foreseeable future because he did not feel that “my personal safety has been sufficiently guaranteed by West German authorities.” This was a reference to a number of bomb attacks to which he and other West German rocket experts have been subjected in recent years. The experts contended that the attacks were instigated and carried out by Israel agents although an official of the West German Justice Ministry has denied this.
BONN CONSIDERS WORK OF GERMAN SCIENTISTS IN EGYPT A PROBLEM
Several hours before the program was telecast, Karl Gunther von Hase, the West German Government press secretary, reiterated it was his Governments intention to “find a solution” to the problem of the activities of the scientists and technicians in Egypt.
He said any such solution must not infringe upon the basic constitutional rights of West German citizens and “under no circumstances” should be directed at a specific group of people. He added that the West German Government had no evidence whatever that the scientists and technicians were involved in the development of atomic, bacteriological or chemical weapons.
He appealed to “the countries and governments involved” to show “understanding for the problem of the presence of scientists and technicians in Egypt for the federal government. ” The Israel Government has several times severely criticized West Germany for its lag on acting on the issue.
Von Hase said the West German Government would do everything possible to find a “fair solution to this problem.” The statement was seen as indicating at though the Bonn Government was preparing to take action, the nature of the action has not yet been determined.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
