◆ SpookStack

ecurity, Thereafter steps must be taken to sxe secret information - not handled by anyone who, for ideological or ‘other motives, may - tray it. . : eens “7, Her Majesty’s Government agree with this broad analysis and will continue to base Uncir policy on preventing persons of this nature from ~ . having access to secret information. 8. Against the background of this gencral analysis, of which only & : very bricf outline has been given, the Conference aduress themselves to an examination of the Government's security arrangements, Their main conclusion is that there is nothing organically wrong or unsound about those “* ~~~ arrangements. They make. however, certain recommendations, the purpose of *~ which is to strengthen the system in some respects. Her Majesty’s Government propose to give effect to all the recommendations which the Conference 9. The Report of the Conference deals with the public services generally. But it is implicit in the Report that the Conference recognise that in certain areas of the public service—notably in the Foreign Service, the Defence field and the Atomic Encrgy Orgunisation—the need for stringent security Precautions is greater than elsewhere. Her Majesty's Government accept this view. toe 10. Some of the recommendations of the Conference deal with what may be called the relation between security risks and defects of character ~ and conduct. *The'Conference recognise that to-day great importance must be paid to character defects as factors tending to make a man unreliable of expose him to biackmail, or influence by foreign agents, There is a duty on Departments to inform themselves of serious failings such as drunkenness. addiction to drugs, homosexuality or any loose living that may seriously ~ aflect a man's reliability. Lo . ¥ IL. There is a natural reluctance to make adverse reports on colleagues - and nothing could be worse than to encourage tale-bearing or malicious gossip, Nevertheless, it is important to impress not only on Heads of Departments but on supervisory officers generally that it is their duty to know their staff and that they must not fail to report anything which affects security. This covers both evidence which suggests Communist associations or sympathies, and also serious defects or failings which might jeopardise the scourity of the section of the public service in their charge. The ~ Government accept this recommendation, although they recognise that the Measures necessary to give effect to it will require very careful consideration. 12, While confining themselves to the security aspect of these defects * "of character and. conduct, the Conference also record the view that in ~ individual cases of in certain sections of the public service, a serious character ~~” Gefoct may appropriately be the determining factor in a decision to dismiss -- - a perticular individual or to uansfer him-to other work. 13. The Conference also recommend that it should be recognised that | the fact that a public servant is a Communist not only bars his employment on secret duties, but may also in some Departments have an unfavourable... eflect on his prospects of — 14. The Conference also make a series of recommendations which turn” “on the risk presented by those in regard to whom there is no evidence that . they are themselves members of the Communist Party, but evidence exists ~~ of Communist sympathies or of close association with members of the Communist-Party. : - Foes - - *