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seth eatacevinln, = * Ya oe na Burgess and Mocteas ys the tool equipment of the Polsten machine gun, and J do not think that they would have been useful for ordinary ’ Fe PUTPOSES. ose cage uae d.. Ve ete Ties Sao! . T ©TRURGESS AND MACLEAN . (STATEMENT) . Mr. H. Morrison (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Forcign Affairs whether he can make a statement with regard to the appearance of Messrs. Busgess and Maclean in Moscow. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr, Selwyn Lioyd): Yes, Sir, 1 have certain comments to make on the appearance of these two men and their — Press conference. First, it brings out into lear relief the consistent lack of candour of the Soviet authorities in their state- menis about these men. In addition to what had appeared in the Soviet Press, Suggesting that the whole story was ‘Western anti-Soviet propaganda, in Octo- ber of last year before the debate in the House about the two men, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer asked Mr. Molotov in Geneva for infor- mation about them. Mr. Molotov said that he was quite unable io provide any. " As recently as 12th January, when the fight hon. Gentleman the Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) saw Mr. Khrushchev, he put the same question. Mr. Khrushchev was reported to have replied, “ Are they in our country, theo? I have not heard anything of them from any Soviet officials, nor have 1 ever met them, so it stands to reason 1 cannot Know what they are doing” = = *. - - ' .. The House must for its own opinion about the veracity of those statements ia view of this latest development. This kind of conduct shows bow difficult it is to establish the relations of mutual trust which the Soviet Union profess so much Red Gesire, “Sit eee . ‘The second comment I have to make is with segard to the contents of the state- sent itsell The House will have noted that ii is designed to be used for propa- Banda purposes and that the two men Were not permitted to answer any ques- tions. In fact, no credence can be placed in their word, There is nothing in the sSlatement which causes me to modify that if Bont w - _ ' 4 t é en A 13 FEBRUARW1956 point. As to the hammers, they were part. My third comment is that there has } face wey se | (Statement) ‘been a certain amount of speculation as to the reasons which have Jed the Soviet Government to change their ground and ‘ to announce, through this interview, the : Presence of these men in Moscow. ‘One view is that it was to forestall awkward questions during the visit of the Soviet ' Ieaders to this country and to clear the air, That may be $a: ra coteet ew -- Another view is that after the visit af ‘my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself to Washington, and the close ¢ accord we reached with the United States“ Government on so many matters, the 3 Soviet authorities wished ta create distrut, 7 and to dri wedge. If this isthe ex- { planation, they will not succeed, <i4 HG ~ | Mr. Morrison: May I ask the’ fight { hon. and learned Gentleman whether there was anything to prevent the resignd- tion from the Foreign Service of these two persons and their conducting propa: ganda on the fines of their opinions is our own country? May I also ask bim whether it is not a fact that during the war, and since, al] British Governments have sought the most friendly relaticas with the Soviet Union in the cause of Finally, may } ask whethe: there is nOW any evidence that these two men Were agents acting on behalf of a foreign Power or the Communist Party? -¢. jog Mr. Lloyd: It is a fact that there is nothing to prevent anyone in the Foreign Service from resigning and conducting such propaganda in this country. In reply to the right hon. Gentlemans second question, the answer is definitely that. io my view, all Governments siuce the war have sought most genuinely 40 seck improved relations with the Soviet Unioa.. ces 1 Bit. cad wasis1y.2 ™ As to whether there is any” evidence that these men were Soviet agents, suspicion of the person responsible for - a known Jeakage of information to ‘the Soviet authorities was, as was stated fa = the White Paper. narrowed down’ lo” Maclean before be departed. This was confirmed by his departure .and, subse- . quently, by what Petrov “has said.“ "No Suspicion attached to Burgess before ‘his departure, but strong suspicion fell on him when be departed, and that, also, has been confirmed by what Petrov has said, Sir J. Hutchison: Would my right bon and learned Friend agree that, é z: seg ean ome ccc nennmee sey SORA NR 2 SUPP TR nee a ee eget