◆ SpookStack

j- rr E nn ee a a Se Oe Te | a ey ai ite RUMOURS ARISING DIRECTLY OUT OF THE, .'. |; PROFUMO AFFAIR (202000 300. These rumours usually ‘sprang from the fact that Stephen ‘Ward met a large number of persons prominent in public life. He met some. at Cliveden, some in the course of his practice as an osteopath (where he had a high reputation for skill) and some in the course of drawing portraits of people. Although he only met them thus casually, he used afterwards in his revention to let fall their names 2 conversation to let fall their names as if they were close friends. The young girls whom he had about him were flattered to be in the company of one ao well connected. And when they afterwards told their stories to the newspapers the names were a good selling point. _ ‘ 7 30]. There was a heavy crop of rumours immediately preceding t my inquiry. On 18th June, 1963, a French Rewspaper published a long article, purporting to be from London headed “Tous les familiers de la Piscine du Docteur Ward ne sont pas encore dans le bain” (All the frequenters of Dr. Ward's swimming pool have not yet been ducked in the water}. In. the article the newspaper set out, with added spice, many of the rumours then current. The newspaper is distributed in Great Britain and its contents became known. Immediately after I began my inquiry I wrote to the Managing Director and asked for the grounds on which the article was based and to be put in touch with his London correspondent. But I have received no reply. I do net wish to attach any special importance to this mischievous article but it contains such a convenient tabulation of the rumours that I quote extracts from it. - Coy. (i) The “ Appalling “Allegation” The ‘man | au ‘302. This French newspaper accused the Prime Minister and another Minister (who was named) of a political offence, namely, “ d'étouffer l'affaira Keeler "—(1.c., to stifle the Keeler affair). This accusation was quite unfounded. But that is not the point. When the newspaper got to England some persons reading it (presumably their French was imperfect) said thete was an “ appalling allegation ” against the named Minister. The hearers interpreted this sexually, as they usually do, and said that the Minister was guilty of indecency with little boys. Hence the rumour. It was a fantastic suggestion, as anyone who knows the Minister will appreciate. And it was of course completely unfounded. It just shows how rumours arise. - ~--- (ii} Negotiations fer a Cottage 303. This French newspaper said of another Minister “ Ik cas aucun doute que (the Minister) était en relations trés a Dr. Ward et sa troupe de girls”. (i.¢. There is no doubt i MT. .........055 had very close relations with Dr. Ward and his pack of giris.) This is entirely without foundation. The only connection of this Minister with Stephen Ward was as follows. 104 Eg tei