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of people one would wish to accompany one to a constituescy siseting. But his wife bad many theatrical friends and he was used to relegting im this galére. Mr. Profumo said- that there had been a letter which giprind “ My Darling ” but it had been quite hatmless. He aleo admitted to a seal present— a Cigarette lighter, His lawyers had arranged to. meet Christine, Keeler on Saturday, 2nd February. She had said that the money the newspapers were offering her for her story was not enough and she wanted more. She refused a eee tents pes nf the rine: 2 to say that aly Of ibe stores that had been put about were untrue. She made it clear that money was what she wanted. Mr. Profymo said he had been told by Sir Norman Brook (who had been advised by M1. 5) to see as little as possible of Stephen Ward since there was a security problem involved. Mr. Profumo said that his lawyers had advised him to do nothing but to wait and see what, if anything, the newspaper published. If this was libellous he could then issue a writ. The Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General were advising him in the same sense. Mr. Profumo added that he had made a full report on the position to the Head of the Security Service. . (x) Mr. Profumo Asks—Should He Resign? — 131. Mr. Profumo asked if he should tell the Prime Minister at this stage. The Chief Whip thought that it was not necessary. Mr. Profumo and the Chief Whip discussed the current rumours and Mr. Profumo asked whether the Chief Whip thought he should resign on account of them. The Chief Whip said that, if they were true, of course he should resign, but if untrue, it would be a great mistake, The thing was to wait for the newspaper articles if they appeared—which, he understood, might be in a fortnight—and then the position would have to be looked at again. Mr. Profumo said that he had never met the Russian Assistant Naval Attaché at Stephen Ward’s flat. He had been present at the bathing party in the summer. The only other time he bad met him was when, accompanied by his wife, he went to the Gagarin Reception—and had reason to remember Mr. Ivanov as he promised to get them a vodka and went off, never to be seen again. (xi) Mr. Profumo’s Disarming Answer "132. Such was the story told by Mr. Profumo to the Chief Whip and from which he never resiled. When the Chief Whip, to test him took the line, “ Well, look, nobody would believe that you didn’t sleep with her,” Mr. Profumo made the disarming answer, “ Yes, I know they wouldn’t believe it, but it happens to be true that I didn’t sleep with her”. He assured the Chief Whip repeatedly that what he said was true and that he was waiting for an opportunity to take action to refute the story. The Chief Whip was kept informed by the Attorney-General of the various discussions which he had had with Mr. Profumo. Just as the Attorney-General felt that they must accept his version as true, so did the Chief Whip. The Attorney-General explained to the Chief Whip from time to time that, if any pulllication was made, a writ would be issued, but that n0 opportunity had ya§.occurred. (xii) The Westminster Confidential an 133. The first opportunity to bring an action came when a private newsletter called the Westminster. Confidential gave mention to the rumours. This is a typewritten letter, stencifled and distributed to 200 or so subscribers. 42