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There is a controversy as to the opening words: Christine cent ec Lave says that he said to Mr. Profumo’s solicitor, “I understand your gents have offered to help her financially ”, and he said “ Yes": whereas MAR | ’ solicitor denies that any such opening took place. Save for that¢s it seems clear that the substance of the conversation was as a ws (vi) Christine asks for £5,000 = 928°” 102. Christine Keeler’s saliciter told Mr. Profumo’s solicitor that he was acting for Christine, that she did not wish to harm Mr. Profumo in any way, but she had no one to turn to for financial assistance except the newspaper. She was due to see the newspaper later that afternoon and the newspaper had arranged for her to stay at the White House. If she did not continue to help the newspaper with the publication she would be without money. Christine Keeler’s solicitor said he thought that the criminal proceedings against John Edgecombe would probably be on that week and that she intended to go away after the trial. She proposed to go abroad, to America. She was to receive from the newspaper £1,500 for six articles or £1,000 for four. Christine Keeler’s solicitor said they did not want to publish and that the matter was a delicate one. One of them asked the other what he had in mind (there is some controversy on this) and after a little to and fro Christine Keeler’s solicitor said £3,000. Mr. Profumo’s solicitor said he would take instructions. A very short time later, however, Christine Keeler’s solicitor (who had Christine present with him) telephoned to Mr. Profumo’s solicitor and said that she would need £5,000 as she wanted to get a house for her parents. Mr. Profumo’s solicitor said he would have to put the matter to his client, Christine’s solicitor said he would await an answer. None came; so he himself telephoned, but was told Mr. Profumo’s solicitor had gone out. (vii) Was it an Offence? 103. Meanwhile what had happened was this: Mr. Profumo’s solicitors regarded the request for £5,000 as so serious that they went round that evening to seck the advice of Queen’s Counsel,(*) and then, with him and Mr. Profumo, they went to see the Attorney-General, Sir John Hobson, and told him of it. The Attorney-General thought it should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr. Profumo said that he was prepared to prosecute, if the Director thought it desirable. The next morning Mr. Profumo’s legal advisers explained the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions who advised against a prosecution. 104. In view of what I have said earlier on the law, the question whether there was an offence or no in asking for money depended on whether there was an intent to extort or not. If it was a fair recompense, there would be nothing unlawful. Upon this point Christine Kaehe explained to me that, in mentioning £3,000 he was thinking of hy cost to have her represented by counsel, what it would coat: Protected at the trial by an ex-C.LD. officer or i would cost to put her parents in a house somewhere, and that.¢ij wanted to go off to America after the trial of John Edgecombe for a BémaBay. After ~ ( Mr. Mark Littman, Q.C. 34 ee he ne Be ahs,