◆ SpookStack

? Called 3d Man In Defection aan ‘Philby I Background Sources. Doubt Commutist Leanings The London Observer today published a 4500-word back- ground article on the disap- pearance of its Midgi? East correspondent, H. A Enilby who, the government said Ta week, was the “third man" i in the 1951 Burgess Maclean spy defection: tase. ‘The disappearance remains a mystery, the Observer said, but the article quoted several sources,” including a former American diplomat and the newspaper's foreign editor, petent reporter with no Com-| munist sympathies. + It also pointed out that Philby was hired in 1956 by the Observer and The Econo- mist after a member of the British: Foreign Office staff, on an “official” visit, said it was unfair that the former diplomat was “not in a job worth his talent or earning capacity.” Believed Premeditated The 51-year-old correspond. ent disappeared in Beirut, Lel it January, and the a) on C who considered Philby a com-| § HAROLD PHILBY - spy case diary server said the disappear- lance had apparently been pre-| meditated. Deputy Foreign Minister 4a hifi. Cc + Edward Heath told the House of Commons last Monday that Philby was believed to be be- hind the Iron Curtain. Heath said the government is “now aware” that Philby warned diplomats Guy Bur- gess and Donald Maclean to flee England in 1951 because British security agents were preparing to apprehend them, The Observer said Philby's close friends are still bewild- ered. The newspaper raised several possible theories to explain his disappearance. “Money looked important: somewhere in the story,” the article said. “Friends who respected him thought it quite likely that, given his (need and his temperament, he i would embark on a quite risky enterprise if the reward were high enough.” He also was_ observed drinking heavily during the past year, the article said. The observer slso noted jthat although Philby had “no known enemies . . . the Sau- di Arabians had ‘occasionally’ been disturbed by his rather Republi¢an political line.” No. Red Traces————~ The Observer's foreign edi- tor was quoted as saying that Philby’s writing “showed not only no trace of Communist bias but also no evidence of a Marxist method of think- ing. His reporting was realis- tic and objective and his po- litical interpretation was cau- tious in form and traditional iin style.” The article quoted former American diplomat Miles Copeland as saying that, “If Philby was a Communist he was the best actor in the world, and this was quite un- believable.” When Philby. first disap- peared, the Observer said, “No one then claimed they i had heard him utter any Com- munist sentiment under any ditior w conditions of stress stress of liquor,’ Aeneas Peer LES Oe Ca ye! callghon onrge ans Gale - Rosgn La Tavel Trotter Tele Room __ Holmes Gandy —_—. ~— Meanwhile, the Lon pay Herald yesterday c: by a “double agent” BAe . id been workin ——_—. ‘the Middle East since 195 British intelligence and Most certainly” for Russi The Washington Posi and L Times Herald The Washington Daily News _ The Evening Stor New York Herald Tribune New York Journal-American — New York Mirror New York Daily News New York Post The New York Times ‘The Worker The New Leader ‘The Wall Street Journal ‘The National Observer Date Ju 7 196