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\ The angjtish of Guy's mother By PAT TYLER a PORE than four years of anguished uncertainty ended for a small, elderly woman yesterday when I told her that her son, Guy Burgess, had spied against Britain as a Soviet arent. “T am not surprised,” she whispered, It waa just four pin. when J rang the bell at the luxury flat if. Arlington. House, Mayfair, where Blirgess’ mother, Mrs. Bassett, lives with her second hygsband, Lieutenant-Colonel. J. RR? Bassett. Colonel Bassett answered the “with blue-tinted grey. bair door. Tall and straight-backed, the 69-year-old Colonel stood silent. for a moment after hear- ing of the Forcign Office state- ment which branded his step-son &. SDV. Then Mrs. Bassetti, elegant, led high, came inte the hall “What is 469" she asted nxicusly, I repeated the Bor- dien Office statement. Atter a thoment, she whispered: “I see. u'd better come. in.” PHONE CALL In. the lounge, its wide win- dows overlooking Green Park where people strolled in the sun- shine, Mrs. Bassett stood twist- ing a handkerchief in her hands. I told her that if we rane the Daily Herald office the fill text of the statement could ba read to her. “Plense cdo ping your | office,” she said. As she took the telephone anc stood listening to the statement, Mrs. Bassett looked down at copy of The People lying on a desk. On the front page wes a renbrt ny @ Russian, Viediner Petaov, caning Burgess and Maclean as ples and claiming that they Rad spied for 20 years. . Ae Mrs. Bassett put down the phone and said wearily: “i fam & surprised, If the Fora bp tue, But Iwill never belibve that he had been spying fort 20 years, “That jist cannot be true. It is tao ridiculous. What seould the Foreign Office be doing, tak- ing. on two men all that time ago and apparently not knowing anything about it?” ‘NO ANSWER — Turning to her husband, who had waited silently while she was phoning, she said: “The Foreign Office say Giy Was spying. But they say more jn the slatement, about Maclean fhan about Guy” Said the Colonel: “The Foreign Office has spoken out ab: last: “But this story by Petrov is + rubbisit. It is fult of inconsist=- encies, We know it is not true, There's nothing else we ea say’ IT asked Mrs, Bassett: “Since your son disappeared, Nave you believed before today that be Was @& spy?’ Stre hesitated, then said: “Id rather not answer that. I doen't tBink IT can.” i As I. left. she said qnietky: ‘Thank you for telling me-of the oreign, Office statement. Tt will e in all the papers tomorrow, I suppose... .” ee 2 : Ok ae MN ae AC ‘. ae BG - t