Page:The Air Force Role In Developing International Outer Space Law (Terrill, 1999).djvu/81

 Lt Gen Richard M. Montgomery, Air Force assistant vice chief of staff

General Montgomery responded that the Air Force had little if any interest in the formulation of space law. He added almost as an afterthought that if General Kuhfeld wanted to push the issue further, additional staff work needed to be completed regarding the symposium proposal and then the proposal needed to be referred to the Air Force Council. Both General Kuhfeld and Colonel Menter left the meeting dejected. Nevertheless, in August 1961, responsive to Montgomery's suggestion, Menter submitted a briefing for the Air Force Council to General Kuhfeld. Colonel Menter included an expanded version of the symposium proposal, which emphasized the need for Air Force participation in the development of aerospace law.

In a December memorandum to General Montgomery, General Kuhfeld continued to push the symposium and recapped the prior year's activities regarding outer space law. Additionally, Kuhfeld reiterated his belief that the Air Force, relying on its mix of scientists and lawyers, should take the lead on the matter. He informed Montgomery that, since preparing his initial proposed briefing for the Air Force Council, "events have occurred, or are programmed, which appear to be fast drawing to an end the academic nature of many aerospace law problems. The current impetus is to seek solution to these problems." General Kuhfeld listed numerous events that had occurred between April and October 1961 that