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lier ° ad ut . . my ee, : = . ee to Lord Astor complained angrily of the use of the phrase “ witch hunt” in the Burgess an Maclean case — by ‘Mr, Anthony: Nuttin . J ‘Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in th * ~"* Commons, *' : 7 ph ee eget gel ee ~ -. + “It Was particularly unfortunate that he should: .:' °°. Se Me ¥. . have used the phrase ‘witch hunt’ of those who were“*- 9s rr a re trying to find the truth,” said Lord Astor. pee pe : “Trying to uncover treason is as much a duty asto>..: - : meet tas prevent burglary. The honest attempt to clear up. these 'matters should never have been stigmatised by that ...,, Questionable phrase.” Lord Astor, 48-year-old Tory and member of the . board of the Observer, joined other peers in pressing qgestions on Lord Reading, Minister of State for . F@reign Affairs, in the Lords, about the disappearance , a ,. “4 ’0ff the two diplomats. , — ce They were dissatisfied with Government answers in|: . _, the Commons debate. They wanted to know more. |". * HR ae —. Oo" WHY was Maclean: "| es ee * aa tas ‘ey This treason } |... _ - it was Lord Astor too who ©; : opened the debate. Polite’ va. eoris had been made tof ho. 00": pet him to drop it, he seid ue ut his conscience would not . pointed head of thej.-. merican department ? | : i WHY ware both of them kept I TH alow him. He went on :— ig the. service when their ‘ : Tsonal misbehaviour Was “Treason Was apparently . known ? ‘ ; ensconced for many years in the very centre of a great policy Making department and conduct unworthy of officers and gentle men had been tolerated for a considerable time. * Although the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary made eloquent speeches in the Com- mons debate many questions - were unanswered which, tf full confidence is to be restored, had better be answered once and for all. That this matter has gone on so long is largely. the. Government's own fault, Was it hidden? — “In early stages the Govern- ment seemed more concerned to nide the truth than to uncover it.. Answers gave the minimum rh : t a 4 of information. ;Inquiries, journalistic and others, ..were WAS their conduct concealed by Foreign Office officiais from i Ministers ? co : WHY were Tes : to go? ' : a _ WHY were the ports not: . alerted 7 _ WHY, at least. were their: ~ assports not taken from them ? - TL This attempt | to defend... - Then came o new demand: Let the Privy Council com-- nuittee which ts to investigate security publish ite report te ParHament jor debdate, * .- No, sald Lord Reading, an 7 . _.{-inguity— into security | could 7 NOT be published. == they allowed ; 7 4 FUUEUOER RATTAN — ne re ree ree discouraged. 18 ity any : . in vain, Lord Conesford “The sad affair of Crichel - ro (Tory) said ft was an: inquiry . Down [eompulsory transfer of "4 many questions were such that! . , Lord Astor sald at the end of: into the Foreign Office, not into - the Seoret Service, It was hoped | the Privy Council was to : the affairs of great departments conduct. co | cannot be carried on velled- in And he too mentioned the: raystery. : . words “witch hunt.” He said: + “Witch hunt has a nasty flavour ; Lord Reading's answers to} the debate, with some heat;— - “In 11 years in the Ho , farm land] should have shown ' the Government that nowadays “it is far better to tWuth out and Anish with it tHan Mose Mesee SS ier get the | . : because it ls a search for witches, \ _ try save prestige by. .- ; ‘and as witches do not exist it; 1: Hiding It. — ot ‘ . used be an. excuse for; | gy“ We have seen from these Bad : - - tyranny.” ! | vents that there has heel a! . ommons and three years in fais: ouse, I have never heard a “tore chivalrous’ and -galiant: - ‘altenpt to defend some | yery~ sible things.” __* ! Tes pete) ety Me > MT Fe A An a Perey, ~, we, a Te a RT ag ee ot gaa ay eT at a Oe roe | tt: cs