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eon seston ram C 2087 Washington and Ontawa Staiemems ere correct, it is disquieting that two -men, who confessed -that- while they were at Cambridge they were mem-, bers of the Communist Party, should both subsequently be employed tn the Foreien Service and that one of them should be employed in the B.B.C. and the Secret Service? Does my right boo. and learned Friend consider that the steps taken as 8 result of the Privy Councillors examination would stop a repetition of that possibility, if it be true? 00 ow Mr. Lioyd: 1 do not accept what my hon. Friend said about the employment these men. The employment of Burgess is described in the White Paper. On the question of the future employment in the Foreign Service of such men, I think, as was indicated in the debate in the House, that adequate steps have been taken. The Report of the Commitice of Privy Councilors is not, I think, a matter for me. soos “Mr, Daines: May 1 ask whether the Foreign Secretary noticed in the state- ment from Moscow that Burgess claims to have served in the Secret Service and M115? Is that correct or incorrect? ' Mr. Liosd : 7 o not think that that is exactly what Burgess claimed. The fact fs that he was employed in a Department which, at the outbreak of war, dealt with) propaganda to neutral countries. It w: an organisation which later came to known as SOE Pot es Mr, Peyton: Does my right hon. and learned Friend realise how welcome his clear statement will be in proving beyond Goubt that the iudicrous paniomime which was staged in Moscow will gain them nothing?...+. s.- eee st Mr. Morrison: Arising out of these exchanges, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he has any intention or otber- wise of making a statement to the House on the report of the conference of Privy- Councillors on the Secret, Service?..;--+ + The Prime Minister: J. am obliged to° the right hon. Gentleman and to his col- Jeagues for the Report which they have: been good enough to present to me. As the -right -bon. Gentleman -koows,. it teached me the night before I teft for” Washington. However, I have given it careful study and we are now engaged in considering the steps to be taken to give nen an $3 FEBRUARY 1956 =... (Discustionsdagn. Lee eee aR Reonstas Wesel te: hid -w- effect to it. I hope to be able to make a slalement upon it in due course bul, the right hon. Gentleman would under- : stand, and all concerned would agree. 1 should not be prepared to make the Report public, ae ote - WASHINGTON AND OTTAWA ~ we... _- (DISCUSSIONS). - The Prime Minister: With your per-_ mission, Mr, Speaker, and that of the House, I should like to report on the dis- cussions which I and my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary have held recently in Washington and in : tee ar te ” The House will recall the situation at the time when these visits were arranged Jast autumn, The Geneva Conference of Foreign Ministers had disappointed ho, that some at least of the problems facing us might have been solved in the spint of the July meetings. However, the Soviet Government had made it clear at the October meeting that it had no intention of allowing the German people as a whole to decide their future by free elections. © -* More’ surprising was the fact that the Soviets refused to lower the artificial barriers which still prevent the free flow of visitors and ideas between the countries of the Western world and the Soviet bloc._In the Middle East, we are faced with intervention by the Soviet Govern: ment in the shape of the Czechoslovak- Egyptian arms deal. +: cr: In these circumstances, it seemed timely to the President of the United States and myself that we should meet to discuss the world situation together. 1 was, therefore, ~~ very glad that the President's recovery enabled bim to invite my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and myself to be his guests in Washington. 1 will now make some detailed points oa the discussions, YS — ve beta a As regards Europe, we are in complete agreement that Germany, whose division is the main cause of the present tension, should be given the opportunity of ree unite in freedom. We reaffirmed our obligations towards Berlin. We were in agreement on the principle of support costs and the equal sharing of the burden of defence between Allies. Discussions are proceeding on this subject with the wan