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CHAPTER XI PRESS COMMENT — (i) The Sunday Pictorial Abandon One Story and Accept Another 158. It is time to revert to what the Press had been doing. It will be remembered that, in early February, 1963, when the Edgecombe case was expected any day, the Sunday Pictorial were thinking of publishing the story which Christine Keeler had given them. But Stephen Ward and his lawyers were doing all they could to stop publication. When the Edgecombe case was adjourned, there was not the same urgency: because nothing could be published till after the Edgecombe case. Nevertheless, Stephen Ward was not idle. He saw the newspaper, and also wrote to them, saying that Christine’s story was untrue. - , 159. During the three days, 19th to 21st February, 1963, there were important discussions between the newspapermen, on the one hand, and Stephen Ward and his solicitor on the other hand. The upshot of this was & proposal that the newspaper should. abandon Christine Keeler’s story and publish Stephen Ward’s story instead. This proposal eventually was found acceptable to all concerned. But there was no actual bargain about it. The newspaper realised that they could not safely publish Christine Keeler’s story but could safely publish Stephen Ward’s. And that is what ‘they decided to do. On Thursday, 28th February, the newspaper wrote to Christine Keeler saying that they had decided not to publish her story. This meant that she had to rest content with the £200 she had received— she lost all chance of the balance of £800. About this time they made arrangements for Stephen Ward's story. They got it ail ready for publication immediately after the Edgecombe trial which was expected in March. (ii) The Daily Express has a Striking First Page 160. The Edgecombe trial was held, as I have said, on 14th and 15th March, 1963. On the very first day, Thursday, 14th March, the announcement was made that Christine Keeler was missing. This attracted much attention. On the very next day, Friday, the 15th, whilst the case was still part heard, the Daily Express came out with a front page which had a banner headline “WAR MINISTER SHOCK ”. On the left-hand side there was a photograph of Mr, and Mrs. Profumo, with the comment: “Mr. John Profumo, the War Minister, has offered his ves to Mr. Macmillan for personal reasons, The Prime a is understood to have asked him to stay on. There has been about Mr. Profumo’s future among M.Ps. for several weeka, Gm the steps of his house in Chester Terrace, Regent’s Park, he said: “¥ have not seen the Prime Minister and I have not resigned—there is no reason why I should’. This is taken to mean that he has accepted the Prime Minister's ae to stay.” fa 51 —a———— --