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1501 Former F3relgn Office to resign from the Foreign Service. Since that date his case bas been the subject of close investigation. No evidence has ‘deen found to show that be was re- sponsible for warning Burgess or Maclean, While in Government service he carried out his duties ably and con- scientiously. I have no reason to conclude ¢ that Mr. Philby has at any time betray. the interests of this country, of to identi him with the so-called “ thi ” i indeed, there was one.-- . ‘As regards. others ‘wh | t hem been in any way associated with this! should be inter opal |, That decision == affair, 1 have made, or caused to be' was taken on made, and studied myself, the most care- ful, rigorous and impartial investigation into each case which } have beea able to have made; and I can assure the House that nobody is being in any way shielded. Tam sure that my predecessors “would not have hesitated to have taken the appropriate action, if they had found evidence of guilt, but, in fact, so such evidence was found. A number of Foreign Service officers who had asso- ciated, as office colleagues of outside, with Maclean and Burgess were examined the Foreign Office Secusity Service, . Of course, any evidence not already available can be produced by anybod cither inside or outside this House, trust that it will be made available to the authorities. eee “ Mr. Herbert wee ison (Lewisham, South): It is said in a newspaper this morning—though ¥ appreciate entirely what the Foreign Secreta said— that Philby and his family have dis- appeared. Does he regard that 3 matter of significance in all the circumstances OF the C2802 pees reel dual envi Mr. Macmffan: ¥ have no reason to believe that they have. In fact, I think &t is very improbable that they have. " Mr, R. J. Melfish (Bermondsey) ‘ay be that Philby has gone into hidin; Because of the " scandalous - publicity arising trom certain statements. «> +0 prarranara ans eee fe ohtee ae cone aah ene Mr. Macmitian ; Well. 1 was trying to State the case as fairly and as absolutely eecurately as I can. 1 must emphasise, however, that on the important question of what decided the two men to escape we really have, as the hon. Member has Suggested, very little evidence, wis 2. ucn “F NOVEMRER 1833 ofa Mreppeni “3900 s have then Foreign Secret: As stated in the White Paper’ asran; ments were made to keep certain hi; . classified material from Maclean, but’ these arrangements were not as ham handed or crude as some people believe. Nevertheless, it is not inepossible bars that in spite of all the precautions, — ares Maclean—whom we now know was an ~ experienced agent—may have become aware of them, 36 ban! arn ++ Suspicion bas also bees cast ‘on those who were aware of the decision of the ~ that Maclean May, 1951, but the evidence of Petrov suggested that the ~ fight of the two men was planned well Before that date and, therefore, that really answers the case of any suspicion falling upon those who were privy to the decisi at the right hon. Gentleman. « - -_ Mr. Sid Silverman (Nelson and - Colne): ¥ understood from the right bon, “~~~ Gentleman’s account of the matter earlier ~~~ that right up to the day when Burgess fied is country there was no suspicion against him at all and there was no inves- - tigation on security grounds. If Y have > ~ that right, can the right hon. Gentleman then say why Burgess should run away? - +: Mr, Macmillan: Well, the fact that “~~ there was no suspicion on the part of the «authorities against him docs pot mean that he may not have deen conscious of his own guilt, and, therefore, thought that _-. the best thing was to be off. I am just stating that there was not any suspicion ~ -sgainst him, 1 think phat that deals with i. - ahat matter. I have been asked for full _ Oetails, and I chink that 1 ought to give ~*~ them -octry ss so er syrec smb Foren “There is then the question of ‘Mrz. Mackan. It -is said thal she ought to “have been prevented from going to Swit- -zefland to live with her mother. Mra. Dunbar. 11 may be said that if was nalve to rely on Mrs. Maclean's assurance, and Jber mother’s assurance, that they would we.2u - eS in touch with the Security Service ;, and op Mrs. Maclean's alleges io, educate the children our of England... oman 4 ne. “However, the, point fs that Mrs. Mac- - ‘lean és really of litth importance. aad thing she knew before Maclean left - must have got from him. She had po means of obtaining any information after he left, and wheiber she remained in this Pr "