US PRESIDENT Bill Clinton is to be invited to Yorkshire to hear concerns over activities at an American 'spy' base.

Campaigners claim a US telecommunications base on the Yorkshire moors is able to intercept information damaging to Europe's commercial interests. They are to submit their claims and evidence to a group set up by the European Parliament to Investigate the effects of electronic industrial espionage on European business.

And they want President Clinton to make a detour from a visit to the north of Ireland to hear their fears about the base - including Its alleged involvement in American plans to' develop a new "Star Wars" missile defence system in space.

Organisations

The invitation is to be sent to President Clinton by Menwith Hill Forum, which is backed by MPs, Euro-MPs, councillors, organisations and individuals concerned about the activities of Menwith Hill, the US communications centre outside Harrogate. The base, which can be easily identified by the giant white "golf balls" or radomes which link it to US satellites circling the earth, is nominally an RAF-run base, but the majority of its staff are US personnel.

Menwith Hill Forum was established this year and has organised meetings for open discussion of the activities of the base, which are claimed to include the gathering of military, commercial and 'Hear our fears over spy base political intelligence for use by the United States.

The base has been subject of investigative TV documentaries into its activities, including the alleged ability to intercept telephone and other communications nationally and Internationally - a claim denied by the base's RAF commanders.

Forum members are gathering evidence collected from US and British newspapers and from Yorkshire Euro-MPs to be submitted to the European Parliamentary committee.

John Eveleigh, a former Mayor of Otiey and a Labour member of Otiey Town Council, said his group was convinced that Menwith Hill's activities were "compromising the prospects of businesses throughout Europe."

He said: "We will challenge President Clinton to defend the commercial spying going on at Menwith Hill. We also know that some of the new golf balls at Menwith Hill will play a key part in America's plans to fight nuclear wars in space."

Peace campaigners are to demonstrate outside the base tomorrow from 11 am to 4 pm. On the same day demonstrators will target RAF Fylingdales. The demonstration will be part of an International Day of Protest against the "Star Wars" project.

The Menwith Hill Forum will meet at Otley Civic Centre on Friday, January 19, at 6.30 pm.

peter.lazenby@ypn.co.uk