Symposium sur les Objets Volants Non Identifi�s

Lundi 29 Juillet 1968

Chambre des Repr�sentants

Comit� sur la Science et l'Astronautique

Washington, D.C.

Le comit� se r�unit, suivant la notice, � 10:05, dans la salle 2318, au Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. J. Edward Roush (pr�sident du symposium) pr�sidant.

M. Roush. The committee will be in order.

Aujourd'hui le Comit� de la Chambre sur la Science et l'Astronautique m�ne une session tr�s sp�ciale, un symposium sur le sujet des objets volants non identifi�s ; dont le nom est pour nous un rappel de notre ignorance sur ce sujet et un d�fi d'en acqu�rir une plus grande connaissance. Nous approchons la question des objets volants non identifi�s comme un probl�me purement scientifique, une des questions qui n'a pas de r�ponse. Certainly the rigid and exacting discipline of science should be marshaled to explore the nature of phenomena which reliable citizens continue to report. Une partie non n�gligeable du probl�me est que les observations signal�es n'ont pu �tre accompagn�es des �lements qualifi�s de mat�riels ou d'�l�ments qui pourraient faire l'objet d'une enqu�te et analys�s. Nous sommes donc laiss�s avec des hypoth�ses sur la nature des OVNIs. ces hypoth�ses vont de la conclusion qu'ils repr�sentent un ph�nom�ne purement psychologique, c'est-�-dire, une sorte de ph�nom�ne hallucinatoire ; � celle d'une sorte de ph�nom�ne physique naturel ; � celle d'une machinerie technologique avanc�e pilot�e par une sorte d'intelligence, c'est-�-dire, l'hypoth�se extraterrestre.

Cet �ventail en t�te, nous avons invit� 6 scientifiques exceptionnels pour s'adresser � nous aujourd'hui, des hommes qui deal with the physical, the psychological, the sociological, and the technological data relevant to the issues involved. We welcome them and look forward to their remarks. Additionally we have requested several other scientists to make their presentations in the form of papers to be added to these when published by the committee.

We take no stand on these matters. Indeed, we are here today to listen to their assessment of the nature of the problem; to any tentative conclusions or suggestions they might offer, so that our judgments and our actions might be based on reliable and expert information. We are here to listen and to learn.

Events of the last half century certainly verify the American philosopher, John Dewey's conclusion that Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination. With an open and inquiring attitude, then, we now turn to our speakers for the day.

They will include :

• Dr J. Allen Hynek, directeur du D�partement d'Astronomie, Northwestern University ;
• Dr James E. McDonald, senior physicist, the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, the University of Arizona;
• Dr Carl Sagan, D�partement d'Astronomie and Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Universit� de Cornell ;
• Dr. Robert L. Hall, head of the Department of Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago;
• Dr James A. Harder, associate professor of civil engineering, University of California at Berkeley, and;
• Dr. Robert M. L. Baker, Jr., Computer Sciences Corp. and Department of Engineering, UCLA.

Messieurs, vos pr�sentations sont les bienvenues. Nous vous demandons de parler en premier, Dr. Hynek, suivi du Dr. McDonald, et puis du Dr. Sagan. Cet apr�s-midi le Dr. Hall commencera notre session, suivi du Dr. Harder puis du Dr. Baker. The subject matter of the presentations determines the order in which you speak. We hope at the end of the day to allow the six of you to discuss the material presented among yourselves and with the committee in a kind of roundtable discussion.

M. Chairman -- the chairman of our full committee, Mr. George Miller.

Pr�sident Miller. I want to join in welcoming you here. I want to point out that your presence here is not a challenge to the work that is being done by the Air Force, a particular agency that has to deal with this subject.

Unfortunately there are those who are highly critical of the Air Force, saying that the Air Force has not approached this problem properly. I want you to know that we are in no way trying to go into the field that is theirs by law, and thus we are not critical of what the Air Force is doing.

We should look at the problem from every angle, and we are here in that respect. I just want to point out we are not here to criticize the actions of the Air Force.

Thank you.

M. Roush. I think it is only appropriate that Dr. Hynek be introduced by our colleague, Mr. Rumsfeld.

M. Rumsfeld. Merci, M. le Pr�sident. C'est un plaisir d'accueillir tous les membres de cette commission distingu�e, et particuli�rement d'accueillir le Dr. Allen Hynek, qui est un enfant de l'Illinois, et sert aujourd'hui au sein du D�partement d'Astronomie et comme Directeur du Centre de Recherche Astronomique. Le Dr. Hynek est membre d'un certain nombre de soci�t�s scientifiques, et s'est mis au service du gouvernement comme de la communaut� universitaire. En tant que son Repr�sentant je suis ravi qu'il ait �t� invit� a se pr�senter � cette commission, et nous attendons certainly look forward to his comments.

Merci, M. le Pr�sident

M. Roush. Dr. Hynek, le place est � vous.