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an mam ata A $a gree “WHAT MAC, — ME: HEATH'S state- | ment in the Cemmons completely vindicated ‘Mr. Marcus Lipton, Labour M.P. for Brixton, who suggested elght years ago that Philby was the Third Man, In October 1955 Mr. Lipton in the House asked the then Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden, if he had made up his mind “ to cover up at ail costa the dubious Third Man activities” of Philby . in November i955 in a dcbate Mr. Lipton said: “J am convinced that 1 am serving the public interest by forcing the Foreign Secre- tary to provide much more information. “It may be that I have other information involving what was said by secret service agents, “iI am not going te be gagged by anybody in this House or outside.” The Foreign Secretary, then Mr. Macmillan, said during this debate: “Noe evidence has bren found to show that be [Philby] was responsible for warning Burgess and Mactean. “While In Government service he carried out his duties ably and = conscien- tlously. I> have no reason to conclude that Mr. Philby has at any time betrayed the interests of this country, . or te identify him with the « so-called Third Man, if ladeed there wie one.” The = followin, day-— November 8, 1955—Philby challenged Mr. Lipton to ‘repeat his allegations oul- alde the Commons. Philby, speakin to . Teporlers at his mother's flat in Drayton-gardens, Kensington, sald: “I am not the mysterious Third Man. “LT have never been ao Communist although I have ‘always been a bit to the Left. |. WITHDRAWN Soon after this, Mir. Lipton had to withdraw his “Third Man” allegation in a@ personal stalement in the Commons, Yesterday in the House, when Mr, lieath had spoken, Mr, Lipton stood up and - asked quietly : “Does your Slatement mean that” Mr. Philby was in fact the ’ Third Man we were talking ‘about al the time when ijurgess and Maclean dis- appeared 7" Mr. Uealh as quietly replied : “ Yes, sir.” “Even now,” Mr. Lipton said last might, “1 doubt whether the whole story bas come out. The truth Is only beginning to be told.” ‘Today he plans to ask the Speaker what can be done abuut bis position. R. DAVID ASTOR, editor of The Observer, which employed Philby, last night refused to discuss the Philby affair and said: “We shall he pulting cut a statement fointly with The Economist.” Observer — director Sir Christopher Chancellor said: “I don’t know Mr. Philby, [I have never met him.” Mr. Donald Tyerman, editur of ‘The Economist, which also employed Philby, . sald: “We took Philby on (not as a stall man} partly on the basis of the complete clearattce fives for him by Mr, Macmil 1955. Foreign Office reaction Was encouraging ig9 The Observer and The Economist. “After his disappearance Mrs. Philby made no a pt contact us.” FLASHBACK: On y) oat ™, a he, “or, mm ys * ye ~ “ fas peat . “ae beta § — sae _ ete ee ao SEL. lan in November — \ October 30, 19355, an Observer leading article referred to Mr, Lipton's charge of “dubigus third man -activities,” The article said; “Mr, Phitby may or may not be guilty of this graye charge, Whether he is can be established only by some form of official or judicial "inquiry." 7 Wf Mr, Lipton “had merely demanded such an inquiry so that he could olfer evidence against a person untamed, he would have performed a valuable public service,” Instead, he used “the method of public allegation in a privilezed Place where his victim has no right of reply." said The Observer. “That is the essence of . McCarthyism. Its danger is not thal the charges are necessarily untrue in every case, but that it wantonly > damages reputations-sad - ' spreads fear.” * . .