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Memorandum for L. ¥. Boardman | tt is stated that at the time of their appointments, nothing was on record to show either man was unsuitable for public service. Although their subsequent personal behavior was unsatisfactory and resulted in action in each case - Burgess was asked to resign in 1951 - Haclean did not come under serious suspicion until shortly before he CF SGP Peo iy In answer to Now 2, it is stated the surveillance of Maclean was primarily aimed at collecting information, not preventing his escape. The surveillance was limited to London as Maclean lived in an isolated section and would probably have become aware of it. It is also pointed out as a result of this case investigations were instituted of all those holding or applying for positions in the , Foreign Office involving highly secret information, Cd) Regarding the criticism levelled by the British Press that the Government withheld information concerning the case, the answer ts gtven that espionage is carried out in secret and counterespionage also depends on secrecy for its success, ¢ The "White Paper" declares that by mid-April, 1951, the search for the individual responsible for the leak of Foreign Office information had narrowed to two or three persons and by the beginning May, 1951, ‘aclean had come to be regarded as the principal suspect. b . It is further reported that Guy Burgess from 19. he war propaganda organizations. Other than the two cited instances, the facts reported in the paper agree ith those contained in our files. @) “ACTION: \ None, For your information, a =o .