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tay re (Mount Clipping in Space Below) { Blake | and Philby sensation JON KIMCHE A extraordinary “ “new development in the careers of double agent George Blake and Ki ‘Philby, the “t man” in the Burgess and Maclean case, is now reported from Damascus, They are both to be on the - staff Of a new Russian cultural centre in Syria. Previously they were both on the staff of a British cultural centre in the non, British centre Tegarded by the the Russians as a centre for British intelligence si’ g activity in the Middle East. No doubt similar suspicions will attach to the new Russan centre, course @ great deal of useful academic work is done at ‘Such institutions quite uncon- nec! wi any intelligence activities which are carri e the auspices of the Cultural Exchange Institution, which has been granted per- mission by the Syrian authori- ties to open an Arabic language School at Bludan. 18 miles from Damascus. The British centre is at Shamlun. across the border in the Lebanon. Accordinz ‘to reliable sources in Damascus the head of tl Russian Arabic language section of the schoo! will ree Blake. is said that Blake received GEORGE BLAKE Soviet citizenship last month and permission to live in Syria. ‘The hislozy department will have Kim Philby on its staff. He is reported to have arrived in Damascus last kin ration for the opening of ‘he Soviet school. Joining them will be two well- known Iraqi professors, one of whom is Dr. Youssif Exzidin, a Hoted authority on Arab history, who is at present Professor of ‘History at Bagdad Opiversity. IA addition to the Russian ‘sta! +1 gyptian, syrian ans two Lebanese academics have also been engaged. ‘The opening ceremony for the Bludan centre is to be on June ~ 15. It is to be conducted by the Soviet Professor Kohkhov, the is due to arrive toxeiher’ with u as yet unnamed Soviet Orientakisls, GS~b§> NO? FRORDE. Yaf> 116 MAY 22 1967 MT (3\-) 777 rat TEs {Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) London, England Date: Edition: Author: Editor: title: GEORGE BLAKE Jon Kimche Character: or Classification: Submitting Office: "EVENING STANDARD" May 12, 1967 London 4k COPY FILED IN ESP - RUSSIA