◆ SpookStack

ALL ARE SCREENED As. a result, since 1952, searching ih- quiries have been made into the antecededts and associates of all those occupying or apply- ing for positions in the Foreign Office in- volving highly secret information, “The purpose of these inquiries is to ensure that no one is appointed to gr con- tinues to oceupy any such post unless he or she is fit to be entrusted with the seerets to which the post gives access.” It is revealed that as long ago as January, the security anthorities knew that Foreign Office inlormation 1 leaked to the Seyiet authorities SOME YEARS EARLIER, , “Highly secret but widespread and protracted inguiries were begun by the secu- rity authoriti nd the field of suspicion had been narrowed by mid-April, 1991, to tio or three persons.” THE CHIEF SUSPEC. T By the beginning of May, Maclean had edthe fo Be regarded as the chief suspect, That was two and a half years after the investigations began. Even then ho action was taken except to ensure that “documents of exceptional secrecy did not come into his hands.” Meantime security “arranged to investi- wate his activities and contacts in order to increase their background knowledge and if possible to obtain information which could be used as evidence in a prosecution.” After | the decision to question Maclean security “ were also anxious that Maclean’s house at Tatsficld, Kent, should be searched and this was an additional reason for delay- ing the proposed interview until mid-June when Mrs. Maclean who was then pregnant was expected to be away from home.” That brings us to the fateful Friday, At this point the Foreign Office week-end plays apart, in this f, tic story: “Maclean's absence did not beconte knon to the authorities until the morning of MonYay, May 28, regu The Foreign Office ly open for normal business on Satur- day mornings but officers can from time to titue obtain leave to take a week-end off, “In accordance with this pract}ce laclean obtained leave to be absent \pn Saturday, May 26. His absence therefdge caused no remark until the following Mon- day.” THE VANISHING ACT The story of the flight we know. There is a lot more familiar to the student of the greatest vanishing act of modern times—the ns to the relatives, the money from nd, the letters posted in London, and the disappearance of Mrs, Maclean,- The report admits that she told security she intended to go to live in Switzerland, and says there was no question of preventing her: “Mrs. Maclean was a free agent. The ahithorities had no Jegal means of detaining her in this country.” To that is added the really astonishing statement: « ANY FORM OF SU RPEILLANCE ABROAD WOULD HAVE BEEN UNWAR- RANT, ED” Then the White Paper deals with two questions that this newspaper and millions of people in, the country have asked for years still asking, We fear they will not be Why did Maclean and Burgess remain in the Foreign Office for so long? Why were they able to get awa When the tivo men were appointed vas nothing on record to show that either was unsuitable for the public service. It is true that their subsequent personal beha- Viour was unsatisfactory. UNSATISEACTORY ! Take a look at the record as set out in the White Paper: MACLEA: In May, 1950, while serving In the mbassy in Cairo he was guilty of “serious mis- onduct and suffered a form of breakdown vhich was attributed to overwork and exc sive inking. After recuperation at homg he as passed “medicaily fit and in October, 9950, yas appointed Head of the American Dephrt~ ent of the Foreign OMce.