The radial velocity curve of HD 153919 (4U 1700-37) revisited ?

We have re-analysed all available high-resolution ultraviolet IUE spectra of the high-mass X-ray binary HD 153919/4U 1700-37. The radial velocity semi-amplitude of 20:6 1: 0k m s 1 and orbital eccentricity of 0:22 0:04 agree very well with the values obtained earlier from optical spectra. They disagree with earlier conclusions for the same data reduced by Heap & Corcoran (1992) and by Stickland & Lloyd (1993).