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Intouch OST of the students are British Foreign Office men’: there are a few foreign students, soldiers, and business men. Philby, in his role as Journalist, was in touch with the school. And among the School's students was, until his arrest two years ago, George Blake, the turncoat British Secret Service man now jalled for 42 years for working for Russia. Beirut would seem tallor- °, made for @ remake of an old Hollywood movie starring Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet. But this world of Kim Philby Is real. And so are the secrets, both Eastern and Western, that can be bought ere. Their wealth IL sheiks and wealthy jousiness men from the Persian Gulf oll States, from Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt, where they feel the going might not always be so good, have salted their wealth away here. The splendid hotels tower above cobbled Arab streets and markets which echo to the crowing of cocks and barking of dogs. One centre of this world of Kim Philby is the elegant cocktail bar and private club of the St. George Hotel on the seafront. He visited it regularly on his way from one diplomatic party to another. Rendezvous ERE Js the rendezvous for almost everyone with money to spare in the whole of the Middle East. “If you can afford to go there you can pick up the most fantastle information every day.” I was told, The endless round of night Mfe, the blazing sun over the beaches, the attractive girls from all over Europe in the bars and the clubs, makes a perfect setting for esplonage. It. is an atmosphere where It is easy —toz-mplomats, like —————— SO other menrto be Just a little indiscreet, to drop the Utbits that are the profes- \ sional spy’s Itvelihood. . » pp even in this atmosphere } Philby’s friends at the ‘ embassy have been shocked at the news that he was a ‘ Russian agent. . * Said one: “After he was ‘cleared ‘by the Foreign OmMfice at the time Burgess ‘and Maclean disappeared, ! we did not think anything like this could ever happen. ‘, | But outside the embassy in ; the bars which are Phtiby's + old haunts, there is hardly a ratsed eyebrow. orid of Kim Beirut,: the fs a|town where don’t) surpris