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3585 Wormer Foitign Offed. 7 NOVEMBER 1955 “Opiate byrasecet 1586, } still be in the country and probably re- ; employed in some other Government Depariment. All that would have hap- ned would have been that he would ave been asked to resign. ag We are now Jeft with two people whose identity is not yet disclosed. Three people came under suspicion, one was Maclean and the other two did not include Burgess. Why is there such great reluctance by the Foreign Office 10 say what has happened to those two people? . Mr. George Thomas (Cardiff, West): Does my hon. and gallant Friend think that it is the job of a Government Depart. ment to smear people on suspicion? ..~ “ Lieut.-Colonel Lipton: 1 will come to that point in a moment.” There is # very simple answer to it and hon. Members will have an answer to that criticism.” 1 am not asking the Forcign Office to mention any names, but why is it that they will not disclose and have not yet disclosed how many people have been asked to resign, have been dismissed, of transferred to other positions as a result of, or following, the inquiries arising {rom the Maclean-Burgess disappearance... .. Mr. Turtes : My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave the exact number in his specch. Perhaps, again, the hon, and gallant Member for Brixton was not Preset when the speech was made, , * Lieut.Colonet Lipton: I listened as carefully as I could to the speech of the Forciga Secsetary, and 1 apologise if 1 did not catch that figure. However, the right hon. Gentleman has added one little crumb of information to the inadequate information provided in the White Paper. When the specch of the Foreign Secretary is carefully analysed, as it can only be carefully analysed when we see it in print tomorrow, the general public will see how very fittle he added to what was already Known to anyone who bas been following the matter, Hine 1 now come to the remarks made b the Foreign Secretary about Mr. Philby, but before dealing with them 1 will deal with the qusstion of smear referred to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas). One of the things which deliberately encourages the spread- ing of what we all deplore and know as ism is the reluctance on the part of the Government to disclose informas. Uda * There is nothing in the White Paper, tion. The withholding of information :« 2. ereates the very risks which we all want to avoid and which every decent-minded Person deplores, the risk of suspicios and distrust in which McCarthyism flourishes. Tf only the Government bad had the x zatru~ courage to take the people of this countsy into their confidence four years ‘agof r-*#-<- except the disappearance Mea; 3S Maclean, which could not have been dis- closed four years ago. As my hon. Friend* “=> the Member for Coventry, East (Mr.’--"?" Crossman) pointed out, the Petrov trial added little of nothing to the known facts: Nothing has happencd in the past four ae. years to suggest that it would have been “~~ contrary to the public interest if this; --- White Paper had been published foug’ =" - ERTS BBO a Mr. Daines: Before my hon. and Jant Friend feaves the case of Philby, I would point out that in the course of a Question, which was greatl publicised, he made what was tantamount’. fo a charge against that gentleman, The- House is in a privileged position, and 3. - think that my hon. and gallant Friend -. ~ owes it to the House of that information.” -LhentCotonel Lipton: I was saying that the information given by the Foreiga | pecretay in the course of today’s debate has added fittle or nothing to what was" giready known, and that it is the with: jolding of information which creates ag, atmosphere of suspicion and distrust.” | 4' Mc. G, Thomas: Give the inform: and we shall all be satisfied... &~ a eee nee “2 ie 2 we 2 ert Rt _ Licut.-Colonel Lipton: We had to wail, cassia & four years before the Government made. 3 ar a statement. The hon, Member——...2" : Mr. Daines : On a point of order.” My. hon. and gallant Friend has made what. amounts to @ charge against an individual. who cannot defend himself in this Houses I repeat that he owes it to the House 49: =2x2w- 4 3 4 give the source of his information, ( lr should withdraw the charges is S1i.t Se es Lient.-Colonel Lipton : The question of what I owe or do not owe to the House # & Matter not to be decided Friend the Member for East h (Mr. Daines), but by the House as a whole and by you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, and the, 3 * general public outside.. However, “Set. Saibes. ge y!