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0-19 (7-8-55) ae Spiesin Britain eee Tt {s a good ‘thing, in its way, that the British are “aroused” oy the belated oti probably reluctant adytission of the Vorefen Office that Donald MacLean and Guy-Burgess had been spying for the sariet Upion fora long time prior to their disappearance im 1951, The British have some reaseu to he apgused. Shorlly after these two young Aipiomats vanished betiind the Tron Cure ain, a Foreign Office spokesman said: “There is no reason to believe they have ‘aken any afficial papers with them." ‘aat observation was much less than candid. For there was no reason why Machean and Burgess should have taken y official papers with them. They had cn fakine official papers out of the les for many years, letting the Russians Siotograph them, and then alisping them back Into place. The chances are that the precise ex- scot of the damage done by this espionage will never be known, But MacLean, at o4st, Was Dia posfiion to reveal a great i, and br probably did. Certainly, when one adds the disclosures now being aade in this case to the free-wheeling ssploniage mairitained by the Russians through such figures as Klans Fuchs, Dr. ‘ian Nunn May ahd Prof, Bruno Ponte- corve, the reflection on British counter- tafelligence is hardly a favorable ane. What significance has this for us? Are not the secrets already stolen and rhe damage done? To 4 considerable ent, Ubis is true. But there still is red for a security system jo Britain and br our own ¢mintry. The Communist effort ab espionage, especially in view of aetsh siceesses, is not going to be aban- dened in the faire. There will be new eorets to be stolen, if possible: And the vould give a great deal to. knew the ienties of counter-agents “in their “OUF-Joo in the United States, is wo sumunists, especially in this cowitry,- yeroneile as far as possible the legilirnste j ey meeds of the Nation ericantd } legitimate rights of the individual, We. should make the fullest effort, consistent with true national security, io protect & suspected person from needless injury to his reputation. But the unhappy Brit- ish experience argues powerfully against any weakening in our own security serv~ ives that would tend. to facilitate fresh fg te we GOT LZ eo effants ot espionage by the Comiirive=, t ST GB ree Dee del Mr. Tolson watt. Mr. Nichols Mr, Belmont rae AM. Boardman So ato Mr. Harbo —_-___— Mr. Mohr Mr. Parsons Mr. Rosen Mr, Tamm Mr. Sizoo Mr. Winterrowd Tele, Room Mr. Holloman Miss Gandy ie Wash, Post ond Times Herald Wash, News Wash. Star N.Y, Herald Tribune N.Y, Mirror Daily Worker The Worker New Leader Date