◆ SpookStack

“WHAT MAC, SAID THEN ME. HEATH'S state- ment. in the Commons completely vindicated ‘Mr. Marcus Lipton, Labour M.P. for Brixton, who suggested - elght years ago that Philby was the Third Man, In October 1955 Mr, Lipton in the House asked the then Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden, If he ‘had made up bis mind “to cover up .at all costs the dubious ‘Third Man activities” of Philby tn November 1955 in a debate Mr, Lipton sald: “1 am convinced that Lam serving the public interest by forcing the Foreign Secre- tary to provide much more information. “It may be that ! have other information involving what was said by secret service agents, “1 am not going to be gagged by anybody in this House or outside.” ‘the | Foreign — Secreta then Mr, Macmillan, said during this debate: “No evidence has been found to show that he [Philby] was responsible for — warning Burgess and Mactean, “While tn rhment Service he carried out his duties ably and conscien- tlously. I have no reason to conclude that Mr. Philby has at any time betrayed the interests of this country, OF or to identify him with the « so-called Third Man, “if tndeed there was one.” The followl aay November” 8 1955—Philby challenged Mr. Lipton to “fepeat bls allegations out- alde the Commons. Vhilby, speakin to . Teporlers at bis mother’s flat in Drayton-gardens, Kensington, sald; “I am hot the mysterious Third Man. “have never been a» Communist although I have always been a bit to the . WITHDRAWN Soon after this, Mir. Lipton had to withdraw hi “Third Man” allegation in @ personal statement in the Commons, Yesterday in the House, when Mr. Heath had spoken, Mr, Lipton stood up and - asked quietly : “Does your atement mean that’ Mr. ilby was in fact the ‘ Third Man we were talking ‘about at the ‘time when Burgess and Maclean dis- appeared 7" ir. Heath replied: “Yes, 61 “Even now,” Mr. Lipton said last night, “1 doubt whether the whole story has come out. The truth Is only beginning to be told.” ‘Today he plans to ask the Speaker what can be done about bis position. » quietly HOW THE OBSERVER BY-LINED HIM R. DAVID ASTOR, editor of The Observer, which employed Philby, last night refused to discuss the Philby affair and said: “We = shall be putting out a statement jointly with The Economist.” Ovserver director Sir Christopher Chancellor said: “1 don’t know Mr. Philby, E-have never met him. Mr. Donald editor of ‘The which sal We took’ Philby on (not as a staff man} partly on the basis of the complete clearance fixe”, for him by Mr, Macmil 1955. Foreign Office _ reaction was eticouraging {9 The Observer and The Economist, “After his disappearance Mrs. Philby made no Allemp! tocontact us.” FLASUBACK: on J lan in November _ ‘ " spreads fear.” October 30, 2955, an Observer leading — article referred to Mr.” Lipton's charge of “dubivus third man -activities.” ‘The article said: *Mr, Phitby may or may not be guilly of this grave charge. Whether he “is can be established only by some form of official or judicial inquiry.’ - If Mr. Lipton “had merely demanded such an inquiry so that he could offer evidence against a erson unnamed, be would ave performed ‘a valuable public service.” ‘Instead, he used “the method of publiv allegation in a privileged place where his victim has no right of reply.” said The Observer. “That is the essence of McCarthyism. lis danger is not that the charges are necessarily untrue in every case, but that It wantonly damages reputations ——sad