◆ SpookStack

Mr. Hérho ff Mx, Paraona | Ms, Bowen i Hr, Tamm... Mr. Bigon we ~ | a. Me. Hotlunan Mis Gandy. AN ae el Oe RET os o ~ aa gt oe ies hy ee eee eee \ oS RRS ee AES RR OR, y 'HE Eurgess-Macleanh White Paper has served anty fio confirm the iupression that the Foreign Office and the securily authorities between them have made egregious asses of themselves. (Only the Daily Worker dissents: it feels this is an elaborately staged stunt to sabotage Geneva.) The unanimity with which all shades of opinion have dammed the culprits is remarkable: but there is no agreement on whst ‘ should be done to stop them disgracing themselves again. : The reason i that two issues which ought to have been kept separate have been confused—largely because of Maclean's social background: security on the one hand: and oa the other, the future of the Foreign Office as.aa institution. * ‘The real trouble, as the White Paper makes clear, was not the disloyalty of Burgess. and Maclean, but their superiors’ f inability to recognise that both men were utterly unctable and “ (nth ti irtepponsible. Neither of then could bave survived in his qb, As let glone been promoted, but for the protection that being ‘dhe of tie boys,’ so to speak, afforded them. The Foreign Offich’s loyalty to dts staff at its best is admirable: it creates g far beter Spirit than is found in, say, the State Department, where the law of the jungie operates. But at its blindest, loyalty can become dangerous: not simply because it allows mea lke Burgess and Maclean to flourish, but also because it creates extraordinary hosulity outside, reflected in the savagery with which the news- papers have been attacking the Foreign Office, The ttewspapers, however, have tended to concentrate on a campaign for the tightening of security regulations—better scresning—more efficient smecliing-out of witches. Such a. policy is foredoomed to failure, Communism is a Virus that cannot be detected by any security mictoscope: screening will oaly tend to exclude those who bave avowed theniselves Communists—not, now, the most dangerous strain, But even an a if a case could be made for a more efficient security system— ae Open erin et {ij must be agreed that the country’s record in this redpect | BROT REVCRELO is Pitiful) ihe question remaing: What de we want to sedure? ag & me 1985 ag ade rennin ae : V6 NOV 15: we Dot in danger of forgetting that we have Httle fefi RE: MacLEAN CASE Oeimg seccttive about? (Bafgie 100-371183) ; . | ” demnd oe EPTERBER 30 a ugh CONDON, mae” _ BY LENE dunt 22 3 Bg 7 : & -_ I QoNOV 16 195507 [fy hroieed i