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(ex “The F:0. suggested we give Philby a job SAYS GHE ORSERER By JOHN DICKIE rue Third Man mystery plunged the Foreign Office into fresh em- barrassment last night. The Editor of the Observer, Mr. David Astor. Issued a statement claiming that the Foreign Office suggested that the Obserrer employ Harold “Kim” Philby, the ex-diplomat colleague of de- fector Guy Burgess. ‘The Observer statement was made “with the agreement and approval of the Editor of the Economist.". Mr. Donald Tyerman. Philby also worked for the Economist until he dis- appeared from Beirut. The Observer said: “ Mr. H. A. R. Philby went to the Middle East as a correspondent for the Observer and the Economist jointly in 1956. “The suggestion that the Obser- } ger employ Mr. Philby came | eee Foreign Oftee-———* (Mount Clipping in Space Below) 2 : ——Repeated___. “In November 1955 the then Foreign Secretary. Mr Mac- millan, had stated: 1 have no reason to conclude that Mr, Philby has betrayed the in- terests of this country or to identify him with the so-called Third Man, if. indeed, there . the Foreign Office repeated this assurance to the Observer, added that Mr. Philby, after resigning from the Foreign Office, had retained no connection with them. and said it seemed unfair that so able @ man should tind difficulty earning @ living as a journalist now that he had full clearance from the Foreign Secretary “The Observer agreed and accordingly asked the Econo- mist to share Mr. Philby's ser- vices in the Middie East, inviting them to make their own check on Mr. Philby with the Foreign Office. No hint “The Economist did so. They were given the same assur- ances as the Observer. Between that date and Mr. Heath's Statement yesterday, the Foreign Office gave neither publication any hint that there was reason to suspect Mr. Philby's loyally though the Observer informed the Foreign Office immediately it learned of Mr. Philby's disappearance.” An_ inquiry Into the background of the Philby affair will be sought by the Labour Party. Mr. Harold Wilson favours investigation by a group of * Privy Councillors, Their report, censored for security, could be seen by MPs. But Mr, Macmillan, who 1s responsible for security, is unlikely to oblige. His general attitude in the Commons yes- terday was to wave aside Opposition pReremr"as un- _ important. _ Mr. Totson Mr. Mohr Miss Hetmes, {Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) DAILY MAIL —_ > ” 4G Edition: Author: John Dickie Editor: ft or Classification: Mr. Belmont. Miss Gandy . London, England dae July 3, 1963 tie: HAROLD "KIM" PHILBY Character: ESPIONAGE - R Submitting Office: London