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_Kii) Reports firet reach the Service of Mr. Pree Ameceet Christine © sd 259. On 28th and 29th January, 1963, more reports were the Security Service (from a secret source considered reliable) about’ and his activities. They learnt now for the first time that Mr. Profumo" was said to have an association with Christine Keeler. They were told that Ward had stated that the girl had been visited several times by Mr. John Profumo and by the Russian Assistant Naval Attaché, Captain Ivanov: that Mr. Profumo subsequently had a prolonged affair with Christine Keeler and two very amorous letters signed by him had been given by her to the Sunday Pictorial ; that the Russians were so certain that a scandal was brewing that Ivanov had been told to leave on 29th January, 1963. (Fhe Security Service already knew that Ivanov was leaving on 29th January, 1963.) It should be noticed that Stephen Ward said on several occasions that he told the Security Service of the association as long ago as 12th July, 1961, but I am satisfied he did not telf them anything about it and they learnt it now for the first time. fiv) ist February, 1963—An Important Decision 260. On the morning of Ist February, 1963, these reports were considered by the Head of the Security Service with some of his senior officers: and he came to this important decision: It was not within the proper scope of the Security Service to inquire into these matiers. These were his reasons: (1) He thought it was possible that Christine Keeler had been Mr. Profumo’s mistress. But he did not think it was the function of the Security Service to find out whether she was his mistress or not. It was a purely personal side of his life which the Security Service were not concerned to look into. “~ (2) It would be a security matter if Mr. Profumo was sharing a mistress with a Russian Naval Attaché—if it meant that there was a flow of _secret information passing through her from one to the other. But lvanov had now left the country. So any present tisk had gone. And there was no reason to suppose that any information had passed from Mr. Profumo through the girl, Mr. Profumo, whatever might be his private life, was a wholly reliable Secretary of State for War and it was Tot to be supposed that he had given away secret information. The only security point was the possible leakage of information through Stephen Ward to Ivanov. As to this, Mr. Profumo had been warned by Sir Norman Brook and there was no reason to think that he had not heeded the warning. 261. So on Ist February, 1963, the Head of the Security Service gave this important ruling: © “Until further notice no approach should be made to anyone. jn the Ward galére, or to any other outside contact in respect of it. Hf we are approached, we listen only.” — ; 7 Co (v) A Call at Admiralty Honse ee 7 Pe a a ane =tes —— _' 262. In the evening of ist February, 1963, thete was an important Can from Admiralty House to the Security Service. The Director-General had already left, so the Deputy Director-General went round. The Prime Minister's: 87