◆ SpookStack

Ihe security service Tiust sugely be regarded as simiost ouf Sst dine of defence. Espionage undertaken by some foreign country, diselos- ing seerets aout diplomacy or defence plans, may prove in the long run more disas- trous than a shortage of manpower or Iaek of modern, weapons. Tt Aave always assumed thal our security meu tere the must keen and intelligent in the world. No doubt they are, Out when the {reasons abie pair were discovered. wy were they allowed to escane frome this country ? Really both the Foreign Oitee and MLS mush not side-step this question, Otherwise they will have a jot more to answer Tor, it fan’t as if this was an isolated ease, Since the last. war af least seven vital peopie have slipped through the Secret Service net. Two of them—Nunn May nd Klaus Fuchs—were cap- ured, but only after they ad sold secrets to a foreign ountry, Fuchs wag a known vommunist, yet he was \ shourity meth recommended for British Inaturatisation by reputable eitizens, WIN the Forefgn jOMee now gisclose their names ? Nunn May passed atomic Secrets to the Russians. It fs known that he was in contact with a mijitery attaché of the Soviet Em- bassy In Canada in 1943, yet it was not until 1944 that he was arrested, What of Bruno Ponte- earvo? This elusive customer, after three security checks, in 1948 became a British citi gen. He worked in our atomic stations though the authori- tlea knew of his family Cont munist eonnections. moved ta Helsinki in 195, and, of course, phen found refuge in Russia, Have the British public such short memories that they have already forgotten those gentry, or the story of Janossy who vanished to Dublin ff 1950, and then to Badapest. There were others, 1 have no doubt. Strangest of ali is the fantastic tale ef Mrs. Maclean, for whomt much sympathy was aroused in certain quarters after her husband had vanished, An inquiry HE went to live in Switzerland, where, though apparently , without “fonds, she managed ~ keep up appearances.as befits the wile of a Foreign Ofice oficial, It is clear that this sup- * posediy innocent person was far better informed about: her erring husband's doings nen was thought at tie ime, Did tt not occur to our ecurity men that she snipht have been detained and in- terrogated as a matertal witness. Or did somebody in nigh, places intercede for her ? A thorough investigation into our security service and its Haison with the Foreign Office and other Government partments cat no longer delayed, The argument shat our is should never be disclosed wil not hold water. The fact i that. our security 1s at stake The, disclosure that Burgess ang Maciean were tipped off by a British officiat in Wash- ington—even if it ls ne more than a rumour-—is bound to cause further disquiet, Mr. flerpert Morrison's suggestion that 3 few senior Privy Councillors from each party should be sslected to undertake an inquiry should be rejected. Bx-Cabinet Ministers are as likely to be involved as the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Forelen Office or ihe head of ital gap EITHER partisan opinions nor thie standing Of potitk eal personalities should ex- elude the most penetrating examination We mifst have an independent bpdy to tackle this job. 1 SHOULD SELECT BODY MADE UP OF SOME BUSINESS MEN OF HIGH STANDING, TWO EMINENT SUDGES, TWO PROMIN- ENT TRADE UNION LEADERS, TOGETHER WITH & REPRESENTA- TION FROM THE UNI- VERSITIES. AML active and retired poll= ticians must he barred. I have no desire to see this country emulating the United States. Television interrogation of suspects is natseating, But even tf oesasionally some innocent person is subjected to examination I should mot regard that ag too high a price to pay Mf the gaps in our security could be sealed. Seourliy is vital; we ows it to ourselves, to Ministers, who carry the prigcipal responsibilty, to vast faum= bers in the Civil Servicp, and ta cnr Allies in the Western Hemisphere. The Government must act and