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69. Very shortly afterwards it also came to the knowledge of those at (vi) Captain Fvamoy leaves, 9 =" 70. Stephen Ward did not know at first of all this activity ky Christine Keeler. He had quarrelled with her for the time being and did not know that she had gone to the newspapers. He had been turned ont of his home at 17, Wimpole Mews, because he could not pay the rent and had gone to a flat in Bryanston Mews formerly belonging to Peter Rachman. On 16th January, 1963, he told a journalist all he knew about the shooting and said he had succeeded in keeping out of it and hoped the whole thing would blow over. But it did not. On 18th January, 1963, he saw Captain Ivanov, and it may be presumed that Captain Ivanov took alarm. It seems as if it was what is called a “ tip-off”. Captain Ivanov left England on 29th January, 1963, much earlier than expected. 88 == - ; (vii) Stephen Ward's alarm 71. The crisis broke upon Stephen Ward on 26th January, 1963, when a journalist went to see him and told him that he had been in contact with the girls -and “they are now with the Sunday Pictorial”. This was the signal for intensive activity by Stephen Ward. He did all he could to stop the publication. On Sunday, 27th January, he went to the private house of his Counsel(*) and had some discussion with him. 72. On Monday, 28th January, he telephoned to Lord Astor and asked him to meet him on a very, very urgent matter at the chambers of his Counsel : and both he and Lord Astor went to Counsel’s chambers. Lord Astor did not stay long but arranged to instruct his own solicitor that afternoon (which he did). Stephen Ward stayed and told the problem to his Counsel: namely, that the trial of John Edgecombe was expected the next week, that Christine Keeler was to be called as a witness and might bring into her evidence the names of Stephen Ward and Mr. Profumo; and that she had sold her story to the Sunday Pictorial and it might appear as soon as the trial was concluded. Stephen Ward’s Counsel went to see the Solicitor-General and told him. The Solicitor-General passed it on to the Attorney-General. The Attorney-General wrote a note to Mr. Profumo and asked him to come and see him. 73. Meanwhile, in the afternoon of the same day, Lord Astor saw his solicitor: and at 5.30 p.m. Lord Astor went to see Mr. Profumo and told him of the danger. Mr, Profumo at once got into touch with the Head of the Security Service and asked him to come and see him. The Head of the Security Service got the impression that Mr. Profumo hoped he would get a D notice issued or something to stop publication—but his hopes were in vain. 74, . Over the next few days there was much going on—so much so that J must divide it into sections so as to show what was done by the police, the lawyers, aid the Ministers of the Crown. But there were also two meetings of the principals. Mr. Profumo wanted to know more about # all, He and Stephen Ward had lunch together with Lord Astor in Lord "s London house. Then Mr. Profumo wanted “to get a bit more out of * and he met him at the Dorchester Hotel. Stephen Ward told him the af had a letter which started “ Darling ” and ended “ Love J.”. 2, () Mr. Rees-Davies, MP. 24 ,