◆ SpookStack

re ee rer PREVENTIVE POLICY gThe report begins with an analysis of the neral nature of the security risks facing ritain. The conference point out that htreas once the main risk to be guarded gainst was espionage by foreign Powers carried out by professional agents, to-day the chief risks are presented by Communists and by other persons who for one reason or | another are subject to Communist influence. i *“ “ The Communist faith overrides a man's normal loyalties to his country and induces the belief that it is justifiable to hand ova ~ secret information to the Communist Pery or to the Communist foreign Power,” the White Paper continues. : Gne of the chief problems of security to-day, says the report, is to identify the mem of the British Communist Party, to be informed of its activities, and identify that wider body of those who ere Sympathetic. to Communism or susceptible to Communist pressure and present a danger to security. = - Thereafter, steps must be taken to see that secrei information is not handled by any- cone who, for ideological or other motives, may betray it. The Government agree with —* 9° For this reason the conference appjove tribunal (commosly known as ‘duties or dismissal from the service. to! ~~ «+ lugs of the Conference of Privy Councille on Security, is published by the Stationert Office (Cmd. 9,715) price 6d. The chairman of the conference was Lor Kilmuir, the Lord Chaneetfor, and it other members were Lord Salisbury, Lord President of the Council, Major Lioyd- “ The White Paper, Statement on the ito Thitce Advisers") set up in 1948 10 hear appeals from Civil servants threatened on security grounds with transfer from secret This machinery should continue and the conference also recommend that the terms of reference of the ‘Three Advisers” | George, Home Secretary, Lord Jowitt, Mr. should be widened, to enable them to present Herbert Morrison, Mr. George Strauss, and a fuller report to the responsible Minister. | 37 Edward Bridges, Permanent Secretary to _ According to the White Paper the mea-ures | the Treasury, necessary 10 carry out these recommenda: |, The tribunal, known as the “ Three tions will involve alterations in existing pro- | viserg,” was established by the Labour cedures, These alterations will be novified |Government in 1948. Tis first three mem- fo the staff associations concerned nd an bers were Sir Thomas Gardiner, formerly - opportunity given for represenialion to be Director-General of the Post Office, who is | made before the alterations are promulgated the chairman, Sir Maurice Holmes, formerly | in full. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of | The conference point out that while an Education, and Sir Frederick Leggett, for- ; individual can be arrested on suspicion thar Merly deputy secretary at the Ministrf of he is about to attempt to convey secret Labour. Sir William Bowen, farmbrly information to a foreign Power, he must be feperal secretary of the Union of st brought before the courts on a charge with- ke Workers, was later appointed an addi- out delay. onal member. . ‘The iime required io collect evidence ups: = which a charge can be based is often long, and the conlerence dismiss any suggestion that power should be sought to detain . Spouses rsons for an unlimited period_without pre-, erring charges against them. They say that this would run counter to this country’s traditional principles of individual freedom and would be most unlikely to be approved by Parliament in time of peace, - | - 1 CONTRACT WORKERS =: ACCESS TO TRIBUNAL. FAVOURED |. -- They also come te the conclusion that legislation which would permit errest and detention without a charge being preferred,. for a short specified period of, say, 14 days, would not be much help. The conference, ---- . also consider that the withdrawal of a pass- | rt could not be relied upon to preven a Binited Kingdom citizen in connivance with 7 @ foreign Power from leaving the country. 7 ~ hort The conference reviewed procedures lor ; the security of secret Government’ Tontracts RIGHT OF ‘APPEAL © 4} te «: 3 involving persons outside Government ef- ». APPROVAL OF 1948 ployment. They have considered whether : meceane gibians tm thase nenaedioree chould i we a : PeIsons SUOCCE LO We pees See - f ot TRIBUNAL . se be given the right of having tbeir case - considered by the “ Three Advisers.” | -.- . The conference recognize that this % a2... =. difficul: matter, but are in favour, if suitable arrangements can be made, of access being . given to the same tribunal in certain cages They recommend, however, that in the first instance this matter should be discussed with Stee National Joint Advisory - 1 ‘Arrangemenys far sych discussion to take : _ . * counter-measures, alth they are diswesfe- || place are -being“made, =~ p -+ + # 1 in some respec if the . , security of the State is to be ensured. But rs Lo | ey recognize that it is also important i wot an 2 | nyince public opinion that the “wil sot] - 7 this broad analysis and will continue to base their. policy of preventing people of this nature from having access {to secret. anformation. The report deals with the ea enerally. But it is implicit in the repo hat the conference recognize that in certai reas of the public service—notably in t Foreign Serve, the defence field, and the Atomie Energy Authority—the need for precautions is greater than elsewhere. The} "= ~~ Government accept this view. The conference recognize that some of the measures which the State is driven to take to protect its security are in some respects alien wo our wadiional practices. Thus, in ofder not to imperil sources of information, da sein rn imac mH decisions have sometimes to be taken without revealing fuli details of the supporting evi oe 7s adoo4 t ; t shag a eA PA esta - wd = Again, it is sometimes necessary to refuse to employ & man on secret duties, or to refuse jao employ him at all if, after the follest investigation, doubts about his reliability gemain, even although nothing may have been proved against him on standards which . would be accepied in # court of law. The conference agree repr aly that th ou: ae . ken and the procedures in force will not Lo exercised unreasonably.-° eqs 5% ee San r . us care ener oa SS plete pene emtererblbe ana sileay iin ere apm metre aie sft matte = ib aap a= RET fore nalts marty <eE RUEeh i