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7\O# morms over Mala, being diverted to subject. to improved 3 ‘i “On the afternoon of | the following day, we arrived at last In Cairo, too late to catch the onward plane for Istanbul. it was nob until the da after that, a Friday, that reached my destination, ‘1 ‘was met at ¢he airport by Oyril Machray, the head of our Istanbul station, whom I had to brief on the mature of my mission, Such were the relations between the Foreign Service and 8.1.8. in those days that nobody, on the embassy or the consulate-general had thought of consulting him about Volkor. 7 We called toxether that ernoon on Knox Helm, to, whom I presented the letter.” trom the Foreign Office. But it I expected enthusiastic sup- port for our plans.-i was soon” disabused. Bome years later. after Heim Had got his embassy, in Buda- peste colleague told me that was the most helpful and understanding of ambassadors, But when I saw him, he was still only a Minister, and as as a thorn-bush. He yurred stubbornly. Our suz- estions’ * might -° weil.-¢ &.Us _ Bestlons TOME Ne CCR Coes net are Peete Came [from the” he would surely have to consult < the ambassador before I went any further, He asked me to call on him’ next morning (an- other day wasted). ‘When I called on Helm next morning he looked at me accus- ingly : " You never told me that you knew the ambassador J" ‘After that our conversation scarcely got off the ground, but gathered from Helm’s manner hat there were also reservations Peterson's mind Rather grudgingly ne told me that the ambassador wanted me to spend the following day, 6unday, with him on the yacht Makouk. It would put off from the Kabatash landing stage at ilam. Meanwhile. I was to do nothing. So the whole weekend was shot. . Most visitors to Istanbul know the Makouk, the ambassadorial cht, originally built for Abbas fimi of Egypt, It was @ large, flat-bottomed vessel, well suited to the smooth waters of the Nile, but it rolled somewhat in the ‘sweil of Marmara. There were several other guests on board, and it was not until after lunch that 1 could talk to Peterson in conditions of Teasonable privacy. ‘As he did not break the Ice, 1 did so myself, remarking that I had heard that he had some bjections to the plans I had brought with me trom London. ‘What plans? he asked—a question that_gave me another sidelight on Helm. He listened attentively to my exposition, and: then asked one question : Had we consulted the Foreign: But ves I answered,' ——— re “Grove Press, Ino. 1968 All rights reserved .: "333 informa strangely he vital ‘The Foreign Office had approved everything, and 1 had brought Helm @ letter asking him to offer all reasonable facilttes. The spy who ‘The'‘last_ excuse for delay had gone.” cold: Philby.and Melinda Maclean In Moscow. wy ‘That evening, Machray and I discussed the plan of campaign in detail We exchanged several ideas for spiriting Volkov away, some involving Turkish co-opera- tion, some nou It seemed Clear that we could not decide definitely which was the best plan until we nad spoken to Volkov himself. Much might depend on his own Position and his particular cir- cumstances—his hours of work, the degree of freedom of move ment he enjoyed, etc, ‘The first step was to establish contact with him. and clearly our best instrument was Page, of the consulate-general, whom Volkov had approached in the first place. ‘ Next morning, nccordingly, Machray invited ‘Page to come over to his office, and I explained to him as much 9s he needed to know, namely, that I would like him to make adv.’ appointment .for me to see > Volkov some time what after- noon In conditions of greatest secrecy, (I did mot want a morning appointment, because I needed time to brief John Reed ‘on the lines already described.) We discussed several possible places for the meeting, but opted finally for the simplest. Page said that he frequently had routine consular business with Volkov. It would be per- fectiy normal practice for him to invite Volkov over to his office for a talk. At long last, as Page reached for the receiver, zero hour had arrived nothing to me. But Page's face was a study ‘in puzziement, telling me that # hitch had developed. ‘When he put the receiver down he shook his head at me. “He can't come?” I asked, “that’s funny.” “It’s a great deal funnier than you think,” Page answered, “J asked for Voikov and a man came on saying he was Volkov. But it wasn't Volkov, 1 know Volkov's voice perfectly well.’ I've spoken to him dozens of times.” Page tried again, but this time got no further than the tele Dhone operator, “She said he was out,” sald Page indignantly. “A minute ago. she put me on tw him!” We looked at each other, but none of us could find a con- structive idea. I finally suggested that there might be some fap on at the Soviet Consulate General, and that we had better try again the following day in hopes of better luck. I began to feel strongly that somewhere along the ne, something decisive had happened. I whiled away the afternoon encyphering @ brief report to the Chief. Next morning, we met again, Machray, Page and myself, and Page telephoned the Soviet Consulate-General [ heard the faint echo of a woman's voice. Page got on to the Soviet. then a sharp click. ' Consulate-General and asked for . Page looked at the, silent Volkov.c. A man’s voice came’ receiver in his hand, “What faintly’on, the line. Page's halt.of the’conversation meant do you make of that? I asked for Volkov, and the girl sald