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Security Checks Increased AS aumigult of this case, in duly, 2851, the then Sécretary of State, Mr. Herbert Morri- son, set up a Committee of Inquiry to consider the Secur- ity checks applied to members of the Fereign Service; the existing regulations. and prac- tices of the Foreign Service: in repard to any matters having a bearing on security and to “ seport whether any alterations were called for. Fhe Commit- tee yvepdrted in Noyember, 1851. It recommended among other things, a more extensive security check on Foreign Service officers than had un- til then been. the practice, This was immediately put inta ef- fect ‘and since 1952. searching inquiries had been made into ; the antecedents and. associates of all those occupying or ap- plying for positions in the For- eign Office involving highly secret information. The pur- pose of these inquiries is te en- sure thal no one is appointed to: or continues to occupy any such post unless he or she is fit to be entrusted with the secrets to which the post gives mecegs, The Foreign Secretary of the day approved the action required, A great deal of criticism has been. directed tawardg the re- ticerite of ministerial replica on these matters; an attitude , which Ht was alleged would nat have been changed had it not been for the Petrov reve élations, Espionage is carried out in secret. ‘Countet-espic- nage equally depends for its success upon the maximum secrecy of tts methods, Nor is it desirable at any moment. to let the. other.side know how 'enuch has been discovered er gudss at what means have been ) used to discover it, Nor should they be allowed ta know all the steps that have been taken to improve security. These con- siderations still apply and must be the basic criterion for tide ‘ing what should ar should not he pubistrt— * Behn ay