◆ SpookStack

t ; Lord Astor complained angrily of the use of the phrase “* witch hunt” in the Burgess an Maclean case — by Mr, Anthony Nuttin ‘Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, ip th 3 * ~** Commons, "' : i ~ - “It was particularly unfortunate that he should ' ¥. have used the phrase ‘witch hunt’ of those who were trying to find the truth,” said Lord Astor, ia an “Trying to uncover treason is as much a duty as to +... Prevent burglary. The honest attempt to clear up these matters should never have been stigmatised by that questionable phrase,” Lord Astor, 48-year-old Tory and member of the board of the Observer, joined other peers in pressing ; Qyestions on Lord Reading, Minister of State for: :} Fgreign Affairs, in the Lords, about the disappearance , - ; Of the two diplomats. hoe ~ They were dissatisfied with Government answers tn |": the Commons debate. They wanted to know more. | - ST ere WHY was Meclean pointed head of — thej’- merican department ? WHY wore both of them kept if the service when their misbehaviour Was WAS their conduct concealed ‘by Foreign Office officials from Ministers ? WHY were they allowed © to go? . _ - WHY were the ports not ' 7% alerted ? _ WHY, at least. were thpir : assports not taken from therh ? 7 This attempt. to defend... Then came a new demand: Let the Privy Council com- mittee which {8 fo investigate Security publish its report to = Parliament jor debate. * | No, sald Lord Reading, an uity— into security, could iT plished. “+ . in vain, Lord Conesford . (Tory) said ft was an: inquiry into the Foreign Office, not into \he Seoret Service, It was hoped | the Councl was to 1 And he too mentioned the > words “witch hunt.” He said : “Witch hunt has a nasty flavour ; because it Is a search for witches, and as witches do not exist it) used to be an excuse for; : tyranny.” Hl . Lord Resding’s answers to! ; Many questions were such that’ .. | Lord Astor sald at the end of: ‘the debate, with ‘some heat:— “In 11 years in the ot mmons and three years in fais, louse, I have never hearg a ‘fore ” chivalrous" and © galjant< attempt fe satens some e » eR SITIES This treason swithin ©. - It was Lord Astor too w opened the debate. Polite eYorts had been made to ut his conscience would not allow him. He went on :— “Treason Was apparently ensconced for many years in the i very centre of a great faking department and conduct y Of officers and gentle- ; Men had been tolerated for a : considerable time. | . “Although the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary made eloquent speeches in the Com- Mons debate many questions were unanswered which, if full confidence is to be restored, had better be answered once and for all. That this matter has gone on so long fs largely. the Government's own fault, Was it hidden? “In early stages the Govern- ment seemed more concerned to nide the truth than to uncover it. Answers gave the minimum of information. . Inquiries, journalistic and others. were iscouraged. = 3 = vey “The sad affair of Crichet” Down [compulsory transfer of . farm land] should have shown * the Government that nowadays the affairs of great departments cannot be carried on velled in mystery. : “it is far better to get. 1 tyuth out —_ finish with it tan } Hiding jt. | | “We have seen from these Lfvents ‘that there hes | jet him to drop it, he said, save prestige {by