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BG Sy fy Report concerning the disappearance _ of two former Fcreign Cffice officials. On the evening of Friday, May 25, 1951, Mr, Donald Duart Maclean, a Ccounselicr in the Senicr Branch cf the Foreign Service ani at that time head of the american: Department in the Foreign Office, and ir, Guy Frencis de Moncy Burpess, a #ecent Secretary in the Junior Branch of tha Foreign Service, left ' the United. Kinrdem. from Southamptcn on the boat for St.lelo, Tho circumstances cf their departure from England, for which they had not sought sanction; were such as to make 1t obvious that they nad deliberataly fled tha ecuntry. Both officers were suspended from duty on June 1, 1951 and their appcintmont in tha Foreden Cifice was | a terminated cn June 1, 1952, with effect from. — June 1, 1951, ; 2, Maclean was the son cf a fcrmer Cabinet Minister, Sir DonaldNaclean. He was born -4n 1913 and was cducatOi. at Gresham's School, Hclt, ard Trinity College, Cambridge, whera he had a distinguisned academic record, He successfully competed for the diplomatic service in 1935 and was posted in the first oe instance to the Foreign Office. He served - ; ; subsequently in Paris, at “‘ashington and in Cairo, He was an officer of excepticnal : ability and was promcted tn theewank of : ~ Counsellor at the early age of 35. He was . married te ar American lady ané had tro young : sons. A third child was born shortly after , his disappearance, + ~ Me Tht Tay WS5u Wnthe serving at her Majesty's Embassy, Cairo, Maclean was guilty of sericus misconduct and suffered a form cf breakdown - which was ctlributed te overwork and excessive : drinking. Until the breakdnwn tcok place his & work hac rerainod eminently satisfactory and ~~ thera was no ground whatsoever for dcubting Ny ‘y Ss his icyalty. after recupsraticn and leave at . ' . home he was passed medically fit, am in \ nd ; , , / October 1950 . }=CLOSNaA « . ' ce eee