◆ SpookStack

0-19 (7-8-55) Light ou the “Missing Diplomats” . Viadimir phcov, who broke away from the Soviet. Embassy in Canberra and provided the West with a nread and de- tailed picture of Russian esplonage ac- tivities, has been the means of producing a flood of light on the shaduwy figures in the intriguing mysteyy of the “Missing Diplomats.” When Guy Burgess and Don- ald Maclean digapocared from Enz gland in 1951, they provided a sensation of first magnitude. Employed by the British | Foreien Office, in whiclr Maclean had- reached hich place, they unquestionably had dccess to material of great yaine to the Reds. Moreover, although they had ymiany characteristics of “seeurity risks” _ —early Comnmninist associations, instabil- ity, heavy drinking-—-the public was. not informed of any recent contacts with Couumunists or grounds for suspecting their loyalty, Then, when Mrs, Maclean, ° American-born, varished mere than two years later with her three children, the mystery was deepened by tragedy. “Phe Brrish authorities did lithe to clear up the public confusion, Perhaps ‘they feared criticism from the United a States, similar to that which accompa- fied thé revelation of Klaus Fuchs’ treachery: perhaps they did not wish to dry up Sources of iiformation by prema- ture statements. In any case, “thoy sat on what information they had until it wus pried loose by the Petroy statements, Petrov asserted, and the Foreign Office acknowledges, that both Burgess and faclean were Russian agenis—since their Cambridge days, according to the _ ex-Soviet diplomat, They asked for asy- lum behirkd the Tron Curtain, Petrov says; Mie Brith admit now-tmar Mac- cai cant at of ¢ se a 7 jean's loyalty was being investigated at the time “of the disappearance, and {t was. known that Burgess’ fitness to re- main in the Foreign Office was in ques- tion, Pétrov confirms earlier suspicions-— which were really moral certainties—ithat the vanishing of Mrs. Maclean from Switzerland was éngineered‘by the Soviet secret police. The Burgess-Maclean. case will remain a. classic iustration and warning of the skill of the Soviet espionage service. It has its paraliels in the United States, almost as dramatic, If less well docu- - mented than the story of the missing | diplomats promises to be. When the Brit~ ish. White Paper on. Burgess and Maclean Is issued it should help round out a tale of the conscienceless subversion of twof! hrilitant bah iWian the tragedy of 2 family my AaLvaky GSR and the threat which such méthods pose for free peoples everywhere, i Mg, Mr. Mr, Mr. Mr, Mr. Mr. Tolson Boardman. Nichols“ Belmont * fs Harboe ‘(A Mohr Mr. Parsons Mr. Rosen Mr. Tamm Mr. Sizos Mr. Winterrow Tele. Room Mr. Helloman Miss Gandy a a BRANIGAR q a f ‘sy we Wash. Post and Times Herald Wash. News Wash. Star N. ¥. Herald Tribune N. ¥. Mirrar —— Daily Worker The Worker —_ New Leader DateSEP 20 i955