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_- Christine Keeler was now, but Mr. Profumo said that, st:#he time he knew her, she was very different. They knew, oo his owip. that he had been to Stephen Ward's flat on several occtsions when Christine Keeler was amongst the guests, and that, om two occasions, they were alone together before the other guests arrived. They knew, on his own admission, that he had written her a letter starting ‘ Darling’ but he said that it was simply a short note, saying that he could not come to a cocktail party. They knew she had told her story to a newspaper and had handed the newspaper the ‘ Darling ’ letter. “* (3) They had very much in mind the case of Mr. Galbraith, who had been assailed by rumours and resigned, and yet the rumours had turned out to be utterly false, and they did not want a repetition of anything of (4) They were of opinion that, a Minister ought not to stay in office if there are scandalous rumours about him which he is not prepared to answer. The scandal which loomed large in their minds was the illicit association with Christine Keeler, The security aspect of the Russian ywas quite incidental. So also was the disappearance of Christine Keeler. It was essential therefore that Mr. Profumo should take the carliest \ opportunity of answering the scandal of his association with Christine (5) In answering the scandal, they considered this one point to be crucial: Had Mr. Profumo in fact committed adultery with Christine Keeler or not? They took it that, if he had not in fact committed adultery, the rumour. lacked foundation. It would incidentally cléar the other rumours too: for if he had not committed adultery, he was not a security risk: and there was no motive for helping her disappear. It imay be questioned, however, whether that was the crucial point. The real point may be, not whether Mr. Profumo had in fact committed adultery, but whether his conduct (proved or admitted) was such as to lead ordinary people reasonably to believe that he had. If that were ‘ the real point, the disarming answer of Mr. Profumo will be remembered: ‘ Nobody will believe that I didn’t sleep with het, but it happens to be true.” It is for Parliament to consider what was the proper point for consideration: though I may perhaps illustrate the point by an analogy drawn from the civil law. If a man commits adultery, his wife may have just cause for leaving him, but it does not depend on his in fact committing adultery. If he associated with another woman in such circumstances that, on the proved or admitted facts, his wife reasonably believes he has committed adultery with her, again his wife has just cause for leaving him. The reason is because his conduct is such as to destroy the confidence and teust which should subsist between them. ; cy (6) In considering this one point (whether Mr. Profumd = | in fact b ah an committed adultery) they did not regard themselves a& investigation or inquiry but rather as concerned to protaai-s oan from rumours with which (if his assurances were accepted) he had peo been improperly assailed. The Law Officers tested his assurances as ae Ce a lawyet would his client, by telling him to be absolutely frank with 58 . ’ a